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Ukraine’s Poroshenko accepts resignation of defence minister

Poroshenko said he planned to nominate a candidate for defence minister already on Monday
Valery Geletei ITAR-TASS
Valery Geletei
© ITAR-TASS

KIEV, October 12. /TASS/. Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko on Sunday accepted resignation of Defence Minister Valery Geletei, the official website of the Ukrainian head of state reported.

“The president stressed it was time to change the defence ministry’s top official,” the press service said.

Poroshenko said he planned to nominate a candidate for defence minister already on Monday and expressed the hope the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) would vote in favour of his nominee at its session on October 14.

“I am sure we will not drag out with the voting on the candidature for defence minister. I hope it will take place on Tuesday,” he noted.

Poroshenko said the decision to change the country’s defence minister and some other personnel reshuffles, such as “the dismissal of the chiefs of the state border service and the establishment of the intelligence committee to be headed by Igor Smeshko, will help build up Ukraine’s defence capacity.”