Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has said he does not intend to enter political opposition to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the war. He also does not plan to personally join street demonstrations demanding his reinstatement.
Fedorov made the remarks in an interview with The New York Times.
According to the former minister, he does not want the controversy surrounding his dismissal to “artificially drag” him into politics and does not view the situation as a struggle for power. At the same time, Fedorov made clear that he would not return to the government in another role. The only option acceptable to him would be reinstatement as defense minister.
Fedorov declined to disclose the substance of his private conversations with Zelenskyy or comment on the president’s reasons for dismissing him.
Although he will not participate in the protests, the former minister did not urge demonstrators to end their rallies or refrain from criticizing the government. Instead, he described the protests as a positive sign that Russia had failed to “take Ukrainian democracy hostage” during the war.
Fedorov also expressed hope that the debate between protesters and the president would focus not on his position but on Ukraine’s future war strategy.
The NYT noted that support for the dismissed minister remains high. According to a Rating Group survey conducted in July, 72% of respondents opposed his dismissal. Street demonstrations demanding Fedorov’s return as defense minister began in Kyiv following Zelenskyy’s decision.
