Zelensky Says He Wants to Build a Cabinet That Strengthens Kyiv's Mayor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 22 that his meetings with representatives of various spheres are aimed at strengthening Kyiv and speeding up work on the capital's security issues, as quoted by Interfax-Ukraine.

"My dialogue with this or that person is strengthening the capital. Just try to make people build a cabinet. I want to build a cabinet that can strengthen the mayor, strengthen Kyivans, strengthen Kyiv, and not whatever someone is fighting over," Zelensky said.

He said he holds various consultations, including with representatives of business and the security sphere, and some of the meetings are not public. The president also noted that supply, capabilities and logistics should be handled by local authorities, though in certain situations they may lack resources.

Background

On Saturday, October 17, a rally demanding the resignation of Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko took place on Khreshchatyk near the Kyiv City State Administration building. Zelensky accused the city authorities of completely failing to take the necessary steps to introduce resilience plans amid Russia's continuing aggression. Klitschko said the central government was the "customer" and the "scriptwriters" of the rally.