Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has been appointed as the country’s ambassador to the UK. This move comes shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked General Zaluzhnyi in the largest shake-up of Ukraine’s military leadership since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Zaluzhnyi had been leading the war effort since 2022 and had been considered a political rival by Zelensky, though he was popular among soldiers.
Since Zelensky dismissed former envoy Vadym Prystaiko in July of 2023, Ukraine had not had an ambassador to the UK. The foreign ministry of Ukraine announced that the appointment had been approved by Zelensky and that Gen Zaluzhnyi has accepted his new role. Though there are still certain formalities to be completed, the move will likely be finalised soon.
When announcing the appointment, Zelensky said that the former general had conveyed to him that diplomacy was the path he wanted to pursue. Despite the lack of diplomatic experience, Zaluzhnyi will now represent Ukraine in the UK, where he will champion Zelensky’s agenda. This move is expected to keep Zaluzhnyi from diverting support away from the president back home.
The decision to relieve Zaluzhnyi of his post came at a time when the professional soldier was experiencing higher approval ratings than Zelensky himself. It remains unclear whether Zaluzhnyi’s new appointment is a reward for his previous service or some kind of political strategy. Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi replaced Zaluzhnyi in his post last month, and Zelensky described him as having both offensive and defensive experience
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