No Defense Minister, Protests in the Streets – Ukraine Edges Toward Political Crisis

President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a new government without appointing a defense minister after the planned dismissal of reformist Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. As Ukrainians take to the streets, members of parliament resist backing a replacement, and thousands demand greater transparency and continued defense reforms, the political standoff has raised questions about whether Ukraine can avoid a deeper political crisis while fighting a full-scale war.