Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office Yermak is behind the government reshuffles – FT

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, is reportedly the key organizer behind the upcoming reshuffle in the Ukrainian government.

This was reported by the Financial Times, citing Ukrainian officials.

“Yermak is orchestrating the current reshuffle… He’s pushing to tighten his control over the government,” the officials said.

According to Verkhovna Rada MP Maryana Bezuhla, Yermak wants the position of prime minister to be filled by someone who is “100 percent his person,” which is why he is promoting his protégé and mentee — Yuliya Svyrydenko.

Earlier, the Financial Times also reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had promised U.S. President Donald Trump to replace Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington, Oksana Markarova, who had faced criticism from Republican circles. The move is seen as an attempt by Zelensky to curry favor with the American leader.

On July 1, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced that the lineup of Ukraine’s cabinet would change on July 15.