Former Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny Appointed as Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Valeriy Zaluzhny, a former military head and national hero in Ukraine, has been appointed as the new Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom. This announcement was made during a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps. Zaluzhny led Ukraine's fight against Russia's invading army for two years and is widely trusted by the public. However, he was dismissed from his position as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military last month due to tensions with the civilian leadership. Some reports suggest that he was seen as a potential political rival to President Zelensky. The appointment to the UK ambassadorship is seen as a way for Zelensky to keep Zaluzhny "as part of the team" and remove him from Ukraine, where he could have been a viable challenger in any elections. The move was also part of a larger shake-up aimed at reigniting momentum in the deadlocked war. There seems to be some agreement among sources regarding the appointment, but differing information exists regarding Zaluzhny's dismissal and his potential political ambitions.