Zelensky replaces defense chief; Erdogan meets Putin

KYIV/SOCHI — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday the departure of defense minister Oleksii Reznikov, as the Turkish president met his counterpart in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday aiming to revive the grain deal.

Reznikov has been through more than 550 days of Russia's special military operation, Zelensky said in his daily evening address. "I believe that the ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society at large," he added.

He nominated Rustem Umerov, who has been head of the State Property Fund since last year, to replace Reznikov — subject to approval by Ukraine's parliament.

Reznikov announced on Monday he had handed his resignation letter to parliament after Zelensky called for "new approaches".

"I have submitted my letter of resignation to Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine," Reznikov said on social media. "It was an honor to serve the Ukrainian people and work for the (Ukrainian army) for the last 22 months, the toughest period of Ukraine's modern history."

Reznikov's ministry has faced scandals over the procurement of food and clothing, as well as allegations from some military aid NGOs that bureaucratic red tape has not been cut quickly enough, Reuters reported. Reznikov denies any wrongdoing.

He said in his resignation letter that defense procurement and purchase processes had been reformed during his tenure, and that he had fulfilled all the tasks, which had been set for him when he was appointed 22 months ago.

News of Reznikov's removal comes amid Ukraine's general push against corruption in response to requests by the European Union.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his visiting Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday that Russia was open to discussions about the Black Sea grain deal, among other issues.

Speaking at the opening of their meeting in Sochi, Putin told Erdogan that he hoped they would wrap up talks on a natural gas hub in Turkiye and said they would also discuss the grain deal.

Putin told Erdogan: "We are open to negotiations on this question."

Erdogan said the world was waiting for news on the grain corridor issue. "Everyone is waiting for what will come out of our meeting today," he said. "I believe that the message at the news conference after the meeting will be an important step for the whole world, especially for African countries."

Russia and Ukraine are two of the world's key agricultural producers.

Agencies via Xinhua