Zelensky plans US visit, signals government reshuffle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he plans to travel to the United States in the coming days, where he is expected to hold talks with U.S. officials and defence industry representatives.

Speaking to the media, Zelenskyy said he had discussed potential government roles with former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov following his dismissal last week.

“I offered him several posts. The latest — Deputy Prime Minister for military innovation. It is very important that there is coordination with the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, the leadership of our army and, of course, with me. I offered him this,” Zelenskyy said.

He did not clarify whether Fedorov had been offered reinstatement as defence minister. Ukrainian media reports suggest that returning to that position is the only role Fedorov would consider.

Zelenskyy also confirmed that former prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko has been offered the post of Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington. He added that he is weighing options for Rustem Umerov, the former secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, whose position has been assumed by Ihor Klymenko.

The president said he had held a phone call on Wednesday, July 22, with U.S. special envoy Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner, discussing proposals from Washington on ending the conflict.

“During a phone conversation with U.S. special envoy Steven Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner on Wednesday, various U.S. proposals regarding the resolution of the [Ukrainian] conflict were discussed,” he said.

Zelenskyy indicated that a meeting with Witkoff and Kushner is likely to take place during his U.S. visit, though the timing remains uncertain.

“We will have a meeting. <...> Most likely, we may have a meeting in the United States. We have been invited, I think the meeting will take place in the coming days, a week,” he added.

Separately, Zelenskyy said he plans to meet representatives of Lockheed Martin, which produces missiles for the Patriot air defence system, as part of efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

By Tamilla Hasanova