German FM Seeks Urgent Briefing After Shake-Up In Ukraine’s Military Leadership

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Wednesday he will request an urgent briefing from Ukraine's acting foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, to clarify recent changes at the head of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Speaking on the sidelines of an official visit to Abuja, Nigeria, Wadephul said he wanted a short-notice conversation to better understand the security implications of recent personnel decisions made by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Germany is — and will remain — one of Ukraine’s greatest supporters, politically, economically and financially,” Wadephul said. “That is why we naturally have a keen interest in knowing exactly what is happening there.”

Wadephul added he was confident the decisions could be understood in context and that, overall, Ukraine’s reform process should continue to be driven forward despite the shake-up.

The changes follow several days of street protests. On Tuesday evening, President Zelensky dismissed the former commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The demonstrations were reportedly sparked by the sacking of the popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.

Zelensky has since appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new Chief of the General Staff; officials expect him to press forward with intensified operations against Russia. Moscow has been at war with Ukraine for more than four years.