Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved the candidacy of Valeriy Zaluzhny for the post of Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. A corresponding request has already been sent to the British side. Zaluzhny, whom Zelensky dismissed from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in early February, has so far refrained from commenting on his appointment. According to BBC Ukraine, Zaluzhny has already agreed to the position, but his appointment will become final only after the presidential decree is issued and after the procedure for coordination with the British side is completed. President Zelensky confirmed Zaluzhny's appointment in his evening address, emphasizing the importance of strengthening diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom.
Before he was fired, the president offered Valery Zaluzhny the position of ambassador, but he reportedly declined. At the time, the 50-year-old Zaluzhny, who had dedicated his life to a military career, had no experience in the diplomatic sphere, but with the start of a full-scale invasion, he had to communicate with military leaders from various countries. It is known that in 2020 he graduated with a master's degree in international relations.
Talk of the resignation of Zaluzhny, who currently has a higher public approval rating than the president himself, has been a concern for society in recent months. Ukrainian and Western observers have written about a major crisis of trust between Ukraine's military and political leadership.
Disputes between Zelensky and the head intensified in November 2023, but the resignation never happened. On January 29, 2024, Zelensky summoned Zaluzhny and informed him of his intention to dismiss him. The president did not sign the decree at that time, but it happened on February 8.
When asked by a Fox News journalist about the reasons for Zaluzhny's dismissal, the president replied: "We need to be faster. This means we need to get rid of the bureaucracy that we have. Otherwise, we won't have any chance. We need to be smarter technologically. And, of course, faster.".
Regarding Zaluzhny's award of the Hero of Ukraine, which was presented to him on the evening of his release, and his possible further support for the president's policies or joining the opposition, Zelenskyy replied that this was Zaluzhny's own choice: "He defended our nation and our country. I gave him the title of Hero of Ukraine because I am very grateful to him for this.".
