MOSCOW — Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, fired his cabinet of ministers on Wednesday after suggesting in a speech that they had become overly solicitous of Western nations that financially support Ukraine by appointing foreigners to the boards of state companies.

“With all respect to our international partners and with all appreciation for their help, the citizens of our country on governing boards of our companies are feeling like an ethnic minority,” Mr. Zelensky said in the speech in Parliament, where a vote was needed to dismiss the cabinet.

Mr. Zelensky also faulted the ministers for poor performance but offered praise and thanks that none had become entangled in a corruption scandal in the six months they served.

The shake-up was the most sweeping since Mr. Zelensky, a former comedian, won a presidential election last spring on promises to end a six-year war with Russian-backed separatists, and to root out corruption.