You're reading: US military consultant: New Ukrainian Defense Minister should have broad world view, be open

Ukraine’s civilian defense minister, who according to the reform plan will head the defense ministry from 2018 on, must not only be able to continue the transformation underway, but he or she must be open, U.S. Department of Defense military consultant Steven Silverstein has said.

“Civilian minister must be open person with wide outlook and he has to understand that he manage complex and big ministry. Security and defense of Ukraine must be priority for him, but he has to understand the need to continue reforms,” Silverstein said in an exclusive interview with the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

According to Silverstein, Ukraine’s new defense minister must know history and understand international relations.

“No matter whether this person will have military background or not, important thing is that he could listen and provide information,” Silverstein said.