«If I decided to change the Prime Minister, I would tell him, not journalists»: Zelenskyy comments on the situation around the government

Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting with journalists. Photo: The President's Office

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had no plans to replace Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and commented on the situation around Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, who is currently abroad.

The Head of State said this while answering questions from journalists.

In particular, he noted that he did not plan to resign as Prime Minister.

«If I decided to change the Prime Minister 100%, I would first of all tell him before I told the journalists. We have been working for many years, after all. So, I did not have a conversation with him,» the president said.

He also commented on the media reports that Deputy Prime Minister for National Unity Oleksii Chernyshov was abroad amid a corruption scandal at the Ministry of Regional Development. Earlier, the official's press service said that he was on a planned business trip.

According to Zelenskyy, Chernyshov is performing two key tasks and should return from the business trip.

«He had two tasks from me, from the government, from all of us: the first is to open hubs in different countries, and the second is multiple citizenship. As far as I understand, he is doing these two things. The business trip is over, he should return,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

As a reminder, Ruslan Kravchenko has officially become the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. On Saturday, 21 June, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on his appointment.