The Minister Who Bore No Resemblance to the President

Ukraine loses its friendly face. Dmytro Kuleba (Sumi, 1981) announced his resignation on Wednesday, a euphemism for a departure prompted, according to some sources in Kyiv, by a loss of confidence from Volodymyr Zelenski. Until yesterday, the Foreign Minister was the only government member who could outshine the president. The wave of sympathy that Kuleba had generated over the past four years among diplomats worldwide did not entirely please his boss, who feared a progressive eclipse of his own figure and demanded a more aggressive style when seeking aid.

His departure had been anticipated for some time, but it is now, with difficult times expected and a challenging winter forecasted, that Kuleba has finally been included in the list of names replaced in the cabinet.

There was never harmony between the head of state and his chancellor. Two different men. While Zelenski, a television comedian before coming to power, leveraged his histrionics to reach the highest spheres, Kuleba built his political path on an accredited educational and professional career. One wears camouflage clothing; the other is always seen in a suit. Two images that describe their polar opposites.

The clash was foreseeable. Even more so because of the wave of international affection that Kuleba managed to arouse, securing privileged diplomatic relations with the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and other Western countries and even opening new embassies for Kyiv in countries where there had previously been no representation. The resigned Foreign Minister also led unprecedented tours through Asia, Latin America, and Africa during which he attracted support for his nation's war cause, somewhat reducing Russian influence in the so-called Global South.

Kuleba grew up under significant Russian influence, being born in northwestern Ukraine, a border area with the invading country. This allowed him to know the enemy and its strategies well. He studied them at Taras Shevchenko University in Kyiv during his International Law degree, an area then heavily marked by former Soviet culture in which he also earned his doctorate. This curriculum soon led him to be hired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he worked as a senior official between 2010 and 2013 responsible for relations with the U.S. and Ukraine's permanent mission to the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe). He also headed the strategic communications department and was a pioneer in digital diplomacy.

After serving as ambassador to the Council of Europe and Deputy Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Zelenski recruited him to his cabinet in 2020, a year after Kuleba distanced himself from the previous government due to dissonances with then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who was very close to the Kremlin. He soon stood out in a team mostly formed by people from the direct entourage of the new leader during his years in show business.

Kuleba always liked to walk different paths, simpler ones. His simplicity and kindness led him to form a personal friendship with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whom he took to eat at McDonald's or a pizzeria chain run by former Ukrainian soldiers during visits to Kyiv. It was his style: fresh and approachable.

The results validated his strategy and thus no one outside Ukraine's borders expected his departure. In the country attacked by Russia, however, it has not caused surprises. His successor is unknown but will surely resemble Zelenski more than the 'resigned' minister and will bring "the new energy" that the president demands.