Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara has proposed a new framework for continued cooperation on joint projects to his predecessor Mykhailo Fedorov, following a recent leadership change at the Ministry of Defense in Kyiv.
Khmara revealed the outreach during a closed briefing with journalists, Ukrainian news outlet Glavcom reported. The defense chief explained that while no specific formal post had been offered to Fedorov, he had invited his predecessor to explore potential areas of joint work.
Khmara said he was still awaiting a response from the former minister regarding the offer. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense oversees the country's national defense policy and military administration.
Future role and international appointment
The two officials previously met in July to discuss options for ongoing collaboration. Answering questions about whether Fedorov might return to the defense ministry, Khmara noted that their discussions focused on general project cooperation rather than a designated office.
The proposal comes after Fedorov accepted a separate invitation to serve as an advisor to Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. Italy, a member of NATO and the European Union, has been a key international partner for Ukraine's defense establishment.
Government reshuffle in Kyiv
The transition began on July 14, when Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, voted to dismiss the cabinet of ministers. The decision terminated the mandates of all sitting cabinet members, including Fedorov.
The following day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would not resubmit Fedorov's name for appointment as defense minister. Zelenskyy invited Fedorov to remain in the administration in a different capacity, but Fedorov subsequently confirmed that he turned down an offer to become a presidential advisor.
The Verkhovna Rada formally confirmed Khmara as Ukraine's new defense minister on August 19. Khmara remains open to working with Fedorov on shared initiatives once the former minister decides whether to accept the open-ended proposal.
