Ukraine has sought to clean up defense spending as the war grinds toward its fourth year
\n KYIV
\nUkraine\u2019s government on Tuesday sacked a deputy defense minister in charge of weapons purchases amid infighting over procurement that is complicating Kyiv\u2019s attempt to reassure key Western partners at a critical moment in the war with Russia.
\nThe dispute burst into the open last week after Defense Minister Rustem Umerov criticized Ukraine\u2019s arms procurement effort as having failed to deliver results for frontline troops.
\nUkraine has sought to clean up defense spending as the war grinds toward its fourth year, an effort that has taken on greater importance as US President Donald Trump considers whether to continue supporting Kyiv\u2019s military.
\nAs well as requesting Dmytro Klimenkov\u2019s removal, Umerov leveled particular criticism at the Defense Procurement Agency, which coordinates weapons purchases for Ukraine\u2019s outgunned military.
\nThe agency was established after a series of allegations earlier in the war of ministry misspending, and has aimed to cut out intermediaries and minimize the risk of corruption.
\nIn a statement on Friday, Umerov said it had \u201cinexplicably transformed into an \u2018Amazon\u2019\u201d and its purchases were too publicly visible. Ukraine has long sought to keep details of arms procurement a closely guarded secret.
\nUmerov also said that he would not renew a contract with agency chief Maryna Bezrukova, a reformer whose appointment last year had been applauded by Kyiv\u2019s Western partners. He pledged to install a new director.
\nThe agency said in response that it had made \u201csignificant progress\u201d in boosting supply and lowering prices, and that it would continue working under Bezrukova.
\nThe standoff comes as Ukrainian troops face Russian advances across swathes of the east. Both sides are attempting to gain a battlefield edge ahead of any potential peace talks, but Kyiv\u2019s defenses are buckling amid a shortage of men and weapons.
\nPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western partners to keep arms flowing to Ukraine. The defense ministry\u2019s own anti-corruption council, comprised of elected civic activists, said the infighting could compromise that effort.
\n\u201cWe believe the current situation is harmful to Ukraine, the Ukrainian military and our international relations,\u201d it said on Saturday. \u201cWe must be clear and predictable for partners.\u201d
\nIn a statement on Monday, G7 diplomats in Ukraine urged officials to quickly resolve the dispute.
\n\u201cConsistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of public and international partners,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ukraine has sought to clean up defense spending as the war grinds toward its fourth year KYIV Ukraine\u2019s government on Tuesday sacked a deputy defense minister in charge of weapons purchases amid infighting over procurement that is complicating Kyiv\u2019s attempt to reassure key Western partners at a critical moment in the war with Russia. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":458251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-458241","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n