Oleksandr Merezhko, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, said this in a comment to Ukrinform.

“If the President submits Andrii Sybiha’s candidacy for the post of Foreign Minister, I think there is a huge chance that his candidacy will be supported both by the committee and, accordingly, by the chamber. There are no problems with him, and there are no complaints against him. For example, he has developed good working relations with our committee. He is someone who does not engage in self-promotion but simply works,” Merezhko said.

He added that he personally would support Sybiha’s candidacy.

Asked how parliamentary opposition circles view the candidacy, the Committee Chairman said that Sybiha’s nomination “does not cause irritation there.”

“I have not heard any criticism directed against him or his professional level,” Merezhko said, adding that Sybiha is committed to an open dialogue with all parliamentary factions.

As reported, on July 17, with the approval of President Volodymyr Zelensky, the government appointed Yevhenii Khmara as Acting Defense Minister and Andrii Sybiha as Acting Foreign Minister.

Asked by Ukrinform whether the issue of appointing a new Foreign Minister is expected to be considered by the Verkhovna Rada this week, Merezhko said he did not have such information.

“It may be that submissions for two ministers – defense and foreign affairs – will be made simultaneously. While the situation with the Foreign Minister is more or less clear, the candidacy for Defense Minister is not yet fully settled,” the Committee Chairman said.

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As reported, on July 16, the Verkhovna Rada approved newly appointed Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi’s proposal for the appointment of a new Cabinet of Ministers.

On July 14, the Verkhovna Rada approved the resignation of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. The entire government automatically resigned along with her.

The parliament is expected to resume plenary sessions on August 18–21.