Western officials warn Ukraine over weapons procurement dispute
Western officials warn Ukraine over weapons procurement dispute
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Western officials have warned Ukraine that an escalating rift between the defense minister and procurement chief may jeopardize trust in the country and urged the government to resolve the situation quickly so as not to disrupt weapons supplies. The conflict began last week when the Defense Procurement Agency’s board unanimously voted to extend director Maryna Bezrukova’s contract for another year.
However, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov overruled the decision, refusing to renew her contract. He accused her of poor performance and failing to deliver weapons and ammunition to front-line troops. The decision provoked an outcry from lawmakers and anti-corruption watchdogs who said the minister's move was not legal because Bezrukova had her contract extended by the agency’s supervisory board in January.
Under Ukrainian law, Umerov’s decision to go ahead with her dismissal is illegal. The rift comes as U.S. support for Ukraine is in question under the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. In a statement posted Monday on social media platform X, the ambassadors representing Group of Seven nations urged the government to resolve the situation “expeditiously and focus on keeping defense procurement going.”.
“Consistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners,” they said. Following Umerov's decision, the Anti-Corruption Action Center filed a complaint urging the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) to investigate him for alleged abuse of power.
