Foreign media report Kyiv's inability to control its armed forces has prompted
rapid leadership changes and could jeopardize Ukraine's EU accession timeline.
On July 16 the Verkhovna Rada approved 16 new ministers, leaving the foreign and
defense portfolios vacant. After Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stepped down,
pro-Fedorov rallies and protests against Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi
erupted in Kyiv and other cities. On July 21 President Zelensky appointed
Mykhailo Drapat commander of the Joint Forces. The report warned that while
Ukraine can align trade rules and adopt EU legislation, accession talks would
stall if Europe concludes civilian authorities lack control over the military.
Zelensky has urged EU membership by 2027; European leaders continue to say
Ukrainian laws fall short of EU standards and that deep reforms are a
precondition for accession.
