President Volodymyr Zelensky named Rustem Umerov as his choice to be Ukraine’s next defense minister, opting for a prominent member of the Crimean Tatar ethnic group who has played a key role in negotiations with Russia since the start of the war.
In announcing his decision on Sunday to replace Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, Mr. Zelensky was brief.
Umerov,” he said, “does not need any additional introductions.”Though a member of an opposition political party, Mr. Umerov, 41, has taken on several critical roles for the government since the Russian invasion last year.
He was the chief Ukrainian negotiator of an agreement that allowed Ukraine to export some of its grain, and a prominent negotiator on prisoner exchanges.
A former investment banker, Mr. Umerov is a lawmaker with the Holos party, which is in opposition to Mr. Zelensky’s Servant of the People party.
Persons:
Volodymyr Zelensky, Umerov, Oleksii Reznikov, Zelensky, Mr, ”, “, Zelensky’s, Roman Abramovich
Organizations:
Defense, People, Ukraine
Locations:
Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Istanbul