Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the deputy head of his office amid a reported corruption investigation, as Ukrainian parliament approved new foreign and defence ministers.
Key facts
- Zelenskyy sacked the deputy head of his office amid a reported corruption investigation.
- Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies said they uncovered a group responsible for money laundering $3.35m, without naming individuals.
- Parliament approved Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister and Yevhen Khmara as defence minister.
- Germany's 10- and 30-year borrowing costs hit a fresh 15-year high on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the deputy head of his office amid a reported corruption investigation, according to the Guardian’s live coverage of developments across Europe.
The move came as Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies said they had uncovered a group responsible for money laundering $3.35m. The agencies did not name the individuals involved, according to the Guardian.
Despite the controversy surrounding the reshuffle, the Ukrainian parliament approved Zelenskyy’s nominations for two senior government roles. Lawmakers backed Andrii Sybiha as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defence.
Zelenskyy thanked lawmakers for the approvals. “I am grateful to the MPs for supporting Andrii Sybiha for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Yevhenii Khmara for the position of Minister of Defence of Ukraine,” he said, adding: “The tasks for both ministers are absolutely clear: Ukraine needs more strength. And it will have it. Glory to Ukraine!”
Elsewhere in Europe, Germany’s finance ministry said on Wednesday that a rise in the country’s borrowing costs to a 15-year high reflected the increased security challenges facing the country following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the need to spend much more on defence, the Guardian reported.
German 10- and 30-year borrowing costs hit a fresh 15-year high during Wednesday’s session. Bond yields of other major Western economies, including the United States and Japan, have also climbed to multi-decade highs this week, driven by ballooning government debt and geopolitics. The trend is increasing borrowing costs for companies and households and complicating policy.
Why it matters
The dismissal of a senior official amid a reported corruption probe tests Ukraine's commitment to accountability as it fights Russia's invasion and relies on Western support. The parallel rise in European borrowing costs shows how the war's security demands are reshaping government spending and financial markets across the continent.
Frequently asked questions
Who did Zelenskyy dismiss?
According to the Guardian, Zelenskyy sacked the deputy head of his office amid a reported corruption investigation. The source coverage did not name the dismissed official in the provided text.
What did Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies report?
They said they had uncovered a group responsible for money laundering $3.35m, but did not name the individuals involved.
Who are Ukraine's new foreign and defence ministers?
Parliament approved Andrii Sybiha as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defence.