Mykhailo Fedorov as then Minister for Digital Transformation at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome. Image: keystone
The dismissed Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov will fight “the same problems” in Italy as in Ukraine, his counterpart from Rome hopes.
July 25, 2026, 1:06 p.mJuly 25, 2026, 1:06 p.m
Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto asked his Ukrainian ex-colleague Mykhailo Fedorov Dismissal offered a consultant position. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s confidante praised Fedorov in the daily newspaper La Repubblica as an extremely innovative politician. That’s why he called him the day after President Volodymyr Zelensky was fired and asked: “When would you like to come to Rome to work with me as an advisor?”
However, according to Crosetto’s account, the plans did not become concrete. “He was touched and understood that this was a sign of my appreciation and friendship.” Crosetto is one of the central figures of the right-wing ruling party Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy), led by Meloni. He also announced new arms deliveries to Kyiv. Italy is considered one of Ukraine’s reliable supporters in Europe. The country has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression for more than four years.
Guido Crosetto and Giorgia Meloni in Rome.Image: keystone
Praise from Rome for change
Crosetto said Fedorov “completely turned the rules of the game on the battlefield upside down” during the war. He stands for innovation. «The same problems that he faced in Ukraine, we also have in Italy, Germany and France. There is resistance to change. And there are those who look forward and understand that innovation is advancing at a frightening rate.”
Fedorov is the fourth defense minister in Ukraine to be fired since the start of the war. The 35-year-old had only been in office for six months. (sda/dpa)