KYIV, March 2 - Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said Monday he had not submitted his resignation but added that consultations with the president and parliament were ongoing about potential personnel changes in the government.

"I have not made any statements as of this moment. I also know a lot and have heard, obviously, that we will have consultations with the President and Parliament on this,” Honcharuk said at a press conference. “As of today I have nothing more to comment on.”

The Ukrainian news outlet NV on Friday reported that Honcharuk had resigned after reports that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was gearing up to oust him. Zelenskiy has asked a special parliament meeting to convene on Wednesday.

The developments come amid speculations that a major government reshuffle is currently being considered by Zelenskiy that will include defense ministry and security officials.

Honcharuk said that “strengthening of the government” was in the works for some time but had refused to comment any further.

A new Cabinet position of Deputy Prime Minister to supervise security, defense and law enforcement agencies may be created and Interior Minister Arsen Avakov may be appointed to the position, according to people familiar with discussions, ZN.UA reported.

Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodniuk may be dismissed in the reshuffle, ZN.UA reported and three officials are currently considered as his replacement, including Andriy Taran, a retired Lieutenant-General who was involved in peace talks with Russia in 2015.

Two other potential replacements include Andriy Senchenko, a former Batkivschyna lawmaker, who may be an ally of Avakov, and Mykhaylo Koval, a former acting defense minister in 2014.

Zelenskiy has convened a special parliament meeting on Wednesday, which Ukrainian media reported could include discussions on government personnel changes.

The reshuffle comes as confidence in Zelenskiy’s government has fallen. The former actor and comedian won a landslide election victory last year promising to end the war in the Donbas and tackle corruption.

Zelenskiy himself acknowledged meeting Serhiy Tihipko, a businessman and veteran politician who was touted in the Ukrainian media as a potential replacement for Honcharuk.

Any reshuffle would come just as Ukraine is trying to secure the release of billions of dollars in loans from the International Monetary Fund, which is contingent on Kiev’s progress in passing reforms and tackling graft.

Zelenskiy has also prioritized ending the war in Donbass but while he has implemented some confidence-building measures with Russia, including prisoner swaps, the conflict simmers on. (rt/ez)