US Will Collaborate Effectively with New Ukraine Military Chief – Pentagon Official, According to Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has the authority to select the leadership of Ukraine’s military, and the United States is prepared to collaborate effectively with his newly appointed military chief, a senior Pentagon official stated on Thursday.

“President Zelenskiy is the leader of his nation, and Ukraine, in contrast to Russia, maintains democratic civilian oversight of its military,” remarked Celeste Wallander, the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.

Zelenskiy has appointed Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the ground forces, to take over military leadership, succeeding Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

Wallander referred to Syrskyi as “an experienced, successful commander.”

“The United States respects the decisions made by the democratically elected government led by President Zelenskiy regarding his commander in chief, and we are committed to working effectively with General Syrskyi, as we have already begun to do,” Wallander added.