According to a senior Pentagon official, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has the authority to select Ukraine’s military leader, and the United States will collaborate effectively with the new military chief. The assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs at the Pentagon, Celeste Wallander, stated that “President Zelenskiy is the president of his country and Ukraine, unlike Russia, has a democratic civilian control of the military.”
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the ground forces commander, was promoted by Zelenskiy to lead the military, replacing Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. Wallander described Syrskyi as “an experienced, successful commander.”
Wallander emphasized that “The United States respects and will work with whoever the democratically elected government, the leader, President Zelenskiy, chooses to be his commander in chief and we will work effectively with General Syrskyi, we already have.”
The Ukrainian leader’s decision to appoint Syrskyi as the new military chief has received the support of the United States. It is seen as a demonstration of Ukraine’s commitment to maintaining democratic control over its military.
It was reported that the United States plans to collaborate closely with General Syrskyi and the Ukrainian government under President Zelenskiy’s leadership.
The Pentagon’s stance on Zelenskiy’s right to choose Ukraine’s military leader emphasizes the importance of democratic civilian control over the military, a principle that sets Ukraine apart from Russia.
According to Wallander, the United States will continue to show respect for the decisions made by Ukraine’s democratically elected government, including the choice of military leadership.
This cooperation between the United States and Ukraine under Zelenskiy’s leadership reflects a commitment to mutual support and collaboration in matters of national security and defense.
These developments signal a strengthening of ties between the United States and Ukraine, particularly in the context of military and defense cooperation.
The appointment of General Syrskyi as the new military chief underscores the continuing efforts to enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities and maintain stability in the region under President Zelenskiy’s leadership.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Peter Graff)
