Khmara Wants to Focus on Procurement Reform and Long-Range Strikes
Defense Minister nominee Yevhen Khmara plans to ask key members of the current Defense Ministry team to remain in their positions.
Specifically, this refers to specialists responsible for defense procurement reform.
“Khmara will propose that the core of the team remain; those who have been involved in procurement reform—which is largely dependent on the European funds we receive—are particularly important,” said the source.
During the meeting, Khmara separately emphasized the importance of continuing procurement reform and named specific officials he would like to see on his team.
“He specifically singled out Vyskub and Bannik, who are responsible for this area, asked them to stay, and hopes they will,” the source noted.
At the same time, no detailed plans regarding the reform of the TCC were announced during the meeting. Khmara merely emphasized that he and General Mykhailo Drapaty are “on the same page.”
Khmara identified long-range strikes against Russian territory as one of the key areas of focus.
Members of Parliament also raised the issue of raising military salaries. According to the candidate, this issue depends not only on the Ministry of Defense but also on the government and parliament.
In particular, increasing funding requires the passage of laws that will allow for an increase in state budget revenues.
An RBC-Ukraine source generally gave a positive assessment of the meeting with Khmara and expressed the view that there are enough votes in the Verkhovna Rada to appoint him as defense minister.
On August 19, the Verkhovna Rada plans to consider the appointments of the heads of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This involves filling two vacant positions within the government.
This was reported by sources in the “Servant of the People” faction following a meeting between lawmakers and the candidate.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dismissed Yevhen Khmara from the post of Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine and revoked the decision temporarily assigning him the duties of Minister of Defense.
The Verkhovna Rada has received nominations from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to appoint Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defense of Ukraine and Andriy Sybiga as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Meetings are continuing in the Verkhovna Rada between members of parliament and the nominees for the positions of Minister of Defense Yevhen Khmara and Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiga.
