Former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said that he does not consider himself a politician and had not previously planned a political career. He has promised to make a final decision on his future work after the current political crisis is over.
Mykhailo Fedorov said this in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda.
The former minister noted that after his dismissal he was offered several positions, including deputy prime minister roles, but declined options that did not provide real tools to influence the outcome.
“I did not issue any ultimatum. I was offered positions, and I said: ‘No, thank you, then I will work in another field.’ But if you want me to be needed to implement the vision of the war, then as defence minister I will be able to continue this and achieve the result I declared,” Fedorov said.
According to him, a deputy prime minister without their own ministry effectively performs the role of an adviser but cannot independently form a team or directly take responsibility for implementing decisions. That is why he described such offers as decorative.
Speaking about his political ambitions, Fedorov stressed that he still sees himself primarily as a manager rather than a politician.
“Honestly, I do not feel like a politician. I am still a manager who builds complex systems, manages them and sees results. I will definitely build something that will help us end this war. I think I will understand what specific path that will be after all the events taking place today reach a logical conclusion,” he said.
Fedorov also said that the protests following his dismissal came as a surprise to him. According to him, the participants spoke not only about him but also about reforms, the fight against corruption, transparency in decision-making and the need for dialogue between the authorities and society.
If dialogue with the president ultimately comes to an end, the former minister plans to choose one of the available options for his future activities and develop a specific plan of action. After that, he intends to announce his decision publicly and, if necessary, begin assembling a team.
Responding to a question about possible presidential ambitions and his rising ratings, Fedorov said this had not been part of his plans.
“The rallies, the ratings and the level of trust — all of this is unexpected and not something I planned just a few weeks ago. I never intended to go into politics. Nothing in my life has changed because of the ratings: they are one way today and another tomorrow. I only feel responsible for ensuring that the country emerges from this crisis stronger,” he stressed.
