Ukraine appoints Zelenskiy loyalist as foreign minister

Ukraine's parliament has approved the appointment of Andrii Sybiha as its new foreign minister, replacing Dmytro Kuleba as part of the biggest government reshuffle since the fullscale Russian invasion.

- Peter Beaumont

The president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has said of the reshuffle, which is taking place at a critical juncture in the war with Russia, that the country needed "new energy".

Sybiha, a career diplomat, worked for several years in Zelenskiy's office.

Critics have said the reshuffle represents a consolidation of power by a small group of Zelenskiy loyalists allied with Andriy Yermak, the head of the president's office. A former ambassador to Turkey, Sybiha had also served as Yermak's deputy.

Alexander Kamyshin, a popular figure feted for keeping Ukraine's railways running through the war, is also being moved from the strategic industries ministry to the president's office. Others have raised eyebrows over the timing of the reshuffle, after a recent increase in Russian missile attacks on Ukraine.