Ukraine’s Zelensky replaces security chief and hires Canada’s former deputy PM
Ukraine’s president taps elite ‘Alpha’ commander to lead the SBU and recruits Chrystia Freeland to drive economic development
President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced the head of Ukraine’s security service on Monday, continuing a top-level reshuffle ahead of a trip to Paris where he hoped to finalise agreements with allies on how to ensure that Russia does not repeat its invasion if a peace agreement is signed.
Zelensky has been trying to revamp his administration as the grinding war of attrition with Russia marks its fourth anniversary next month. He is keen to keep up the momentum of US-led peace talks as well as sharpen Ukraine’s focus on defence if those efforts collapse.
The Paris talks on Tuesday were expected to include the leaders of about 30 countries, dubbed the “coalition of the willing”, which are ready to provide security guarantees to keep Ukraine safe in the future.
Key issues include whether countries are prepared to deploy troops inside or close to Ukraine and what the remit of any force overseeing a ceasefire might be. Russia has said it won’t accept troops from Nato countries on Ukrainian soil.
Zelensky also announced the appointment of Canada’s former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland as Ukraine’s economic development adviser, describing her as an expert on the issues with “significant experience in attracting investment and carrying out economic transformations”.