Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's government reshuffle will help strengthen his negotiating capacity and mitigate the political fallout from a likely unfavorable peace process, as Western support weakens and Russia seeks to translate battlefield gains into diplomatic leverage. On Jan. 14, Ukraine's parliament approved former defense minister Denys Shmyhal as first deputy prime minister and minister of energy, as the country rushes to stabilize its energy sector amid intensified Russian attacks. Lawmakers also confirmed former digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov as deputy prime minister and minister of defense. These appointments were part of a wider government reshuffle, which also included President Zelensky's Jan. 2 decision to appoint the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) chief, Kyrylo Budanov, as head of the Presidential Office, and to dismiss Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) head Vasyl Maliuk....
