President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a sweeping overhaul of the state apparatus. Initial changes have already begun within the Cabinet of Ministers, with further reshuffles planned for ministries, the Defense Ministry, and the entire security and law enforcement sector.
"I will personally handle the rotation of absolutely all leaders. Some have served for a very long time. With great respect, we are all one team. I believe everyone will remain in various high-ranking positions, but there will undoubtedly be replacements and rotations across the board," Zelensky stated.
Changes in the defense sector will commence once parliament approves the new Minister of Defense, Fedorov. Rotations of law enforcement heads and a reform of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) are scheduled for January.
However, there are no plans to replace Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky. "We are talking about step-by-step measures, not saying we are ready to replace the Commander-in-Chief today," the President clarified.
Commenting on requests from top military officials not to dismiss SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk, Zelensky emphasized: "I respect everyone. I will carry out the rotations I have decided on."
"The country must be ready for any scenario. That is why we are simultaneously rebooting all structures—to have fresh forces," the President stressed.
Zelensky also outlined a clear plan for international negotiations in January. A meeting of chiefs of general staff is set for January 5, followed by a leaders-level meeting in Paris on January 6. The key objective is to finalize a security guarantee document within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing.
"In principle, the number one task is to finalize the Coalition of the Willing security guarantee document to prepare it as a basis for discussions in the United States with President Trump," Zelensky explained.
Security guarantees for Ukraine will consist of three elements: guarantees from the Coalition of the Willing, future EU membership, and bilateral security agreements with the US.
Regarding European troops in Ukraine, the President noted there is no final document with all details yet. The UK and France are chairing the coalition, and their military presence is mandatory. European troops could be involved in monitoring a ceasefire, supporting the Armed Forces with weaponry and intelligence, training missions, and ensuring security guarantees on land, at sea, and in the air.
On the use of Western weapons for deep strikes, Zelensky stressed: "We have moved to a phase where we use what we have. And what we are not allowed to use, we are not given."
The only effective way to persuade Russia to compromise is dialogue backed by pressure, the President believes. "I do not believe there is a realistic, quick alternative to the dialogue currently taking place," he added.
