Zelenskyy approves former Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi as Ukraine's ambassador to UK
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved the candidacy of Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, with Ukraine's Foreign Ministry sending a corresponding request to the UK. Source: website of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry Quote: "The president of Ukraine approved the candidacy of Valerii Zaluzhnyi as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Thursday, 7 March 2024.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has sent the relevant request for the agrement to the UK."
Advertisement:Previously: The previous ambassador was former Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko, whom Zelenskyy appointed on 20 July 2020.
He was dismissed in July 2023 after Zelenskyy's comment regarding UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace's statements about the need for more gratitude to allies.
Background:
- On 8 February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree dismissing Valerii Zaluzhnyi from his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
- Later, President Zelenskyy appointed Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that the need to review the military tactics and prevent stagnation on the front was among the reasons Zaluzhnyi had been dismissed.
- Answering a question about why General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Chief of the Armed Forces, and the key leadership of Ukraine's Armed Forces were dismissed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was a reboot, restructuring and change of military command management.
Support UP or become our patron!