Zelensky mulling Defense Minister Umerov's appointment as Ukrainian ambassador to U.S

MOSCOW. July 11 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has said he is considering Defense Minister Rustem Umerov as a candidate for Ukrainian ambassador to the United States.

"I'll tell you openly: if I decide, which is going to happen soon, that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will represent Ukraine in the U.S., that is, that he should be our key ambassador, this will certainly prompt key reshuffles in the Ukrainian government," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying at a press briefing in Rome on Thursday.

"It's very important for us these days to bolster our relations with the U.S. in the current context, not to lose this momentum," Zelensky said. "Therefore, this requires a strong person [...] Therefore, one of my ideas is that this should be Ukraine's defense minister," he said.

"This will affect the government significantly," Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine needed to reduce the number of institutions, including governmental ones.

Zelensky said that the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. would be replaced in any event and that he had discussed the matter with current Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova.

"I can't tell you what's going to be her next job, as a lot depends precisely on her. I am open. I'd like her to continue to work in Ukraine. But if she decides otherwise for herself, that's her choice," he said.