Zelensky shores up communications on foreign policy

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an order on Dec.
22 reaffirming that only specific officials are allowed to speak for the
Ukrainian government on foreign policy issues. The order specifies that only
the President of Ukraine, Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Ukraine may speak on behalf of the Ukrainian government.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba answered critics of the
move via Facebook, explaining that the order does not prevent official
spokespersons from fulfilling their duties. Those authorized to speak in an
official capacity will still do so.

James Hydzik: The order strengthens communications in a particularly important
manner. Given that one of the preferred options for the Kremlin is to justify
an incursion by being asked in as saviors, fostering a crisis as well as
someone to do the asking would be logical steps. The order removes this
possibility, or at least makes it harder for someone to claim to be speaking
for the government.