1. Military action in Donbas
2. New President: inauguration, speech in parliament
3. Zelensky's first steps: dismissal of parliament
4. Zelensky's first steps: appointments at the Presidential Administration and in the Armed Forces
5. IMF concerns
6. Gas prices: up or down?
Military action in Donbas
Eight servicemen of the Ukrainian military ended up in captivity in Donbas. The incident took place in Donetsk region, near Novotroitske. The Ukrainian government works hard to return the captives.
Ertugrul Apakan, the Head of the Special Monitoring Mission of OSCE in Ukraine leaves his office. His compatriot Halit Çevik will replace him and assume the job on June 1.
New President: inauguration, speech in parliament
Zelensky's first steps: dismissal of parliament
On May 20, President Zelensky dismissed the Verkhovna Rada during his inauguration. Later it was reported the decree on the dismissal of Verkhovna Rada was signed and snap parliamentary elections were appointed on July 21, 2019. Election process of the snap elections has started on May 23. The next day Ukrainians were provided the possibility to change the voting place.
Zelensky's first steps: appointments at the Presidential Administration and in the Armed Forces
The first top-level appointments took place in Ukraine soon after the inauguration of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Andriy Bohdan became the head of presidential administration. Leader of the state also chose several people to serve Bohdan’s deputies; most of these characters appeared to be his business partners – a clear sign of cronyism, in the very first days of his cadence.
President Zelensky also assigned the new Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Viktor Muzhenko who served in this office since 2014 was fired; his successor is Lieutenant General Ruslan Khomchak. Stepan Poltorak, the Defense Minister filed a resignation letter, too. His successor’s name will become known after the new line-up of the Parliament approves the candidacies of members of the government; that is not likely to happen at least until the end of July when the snap parliamentary election is to take place.
IMF concerns
IMF mission began its work in Ukraine on May 21. All further agreements with the fund will be reconsidered and will be possible only after snap parliamentary elections. Besides, President Zelensky will meet IMF representatives the next week.
