Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Thursday rejected President Volodymyr Zelensky’s offer to become deputy prime minister for military innovations, saying he would not accept another government position unless he was returned to the Defense Ministry. The announcement came hours after Zelensky publicly confirmed the offer during a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Kyiv.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “I believe that Mykhailo is in the team. I have offered him several positions; the last position, not to go into the details of all our meetings, is deputy prime minister of Ukraine for military innovations,” Zelensky said. According to Zelensky, the proposed role would involve coordinating military innovation with the leadership of the Defense Ministry, Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief, the General Staff and the president. The offer followed more than a week of upheaval in Ukraine’s political and military leadership triggered by Fedorov’s departure from the Defense Ministry on July 15. Fedorov later accused then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky of obstructing military reforms. Nationwide protests subsequently called both for Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrsky’s removal. After six days of protests, Zelensky dismissed Syrsky on July 21 and appointed 43-year-old Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapaty as Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief.