Zelenskyy named new Prime Minister in cabinet class to refresh the war – Country
Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economy minister and lead negotiator for the U.S. mineral deal, was appointed as the new prime minister on Thursday, becoming the country’s first new government head since the full Russian invasion in 2022.
Svyrydenko is one of a group of officials who have taken a new role in the Ukrainian government as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reorganized the cabinet to provide incentives for a country tired of war in the face of Russian invasions and promote the production of household weapons.
At home, however, cabinet recalibration was not seen as a major shift, as Ukrainian leaders continued to rely on officials who demonstrated their effectiveness and loyalty during the war (now in the fourth year).
Zelenskyy submitted a nomination on Thursday to reorganize senior government positions, including replacing Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the longest-serving government head in Ukraine’s history.
According to the parliament website, Shahrhal is now becoming the Minister of Defense.
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Other changes are expected in the cabinet, but Svyrydenko’s appointment as prime minister is on the center stage.
She played a key role in negotiating the U.S.-Ukrainian mineral agreement, ensuring acceptable terms in Kiev. Svyrydenko often conducts high-level dialogue with Western partners on behalf of Ukraine, focusing on defense cooperation, economic recovery and reconstruction.
Legislators and officials described her as a hard-working executive, known for her loyalty to the presidency.
Zelenskyy posted a photo with Svyrydenko and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov on Tuesday and wrote that the focus of the next six months will be on increasing domestic weapons production, allowing all types of Ukrainian drones to be fully contracted, thus mitigating regulations that unlock economic potential and ensuring the delivery of social support programs.
Shyhal announced his role as prime minister on Tuesday. He held the position for more than five years after being appointed on March 4, 2020.
Ukrainian analysts and local media rarely portray Shyhal as an independent politician or counterweight to Zelenskyy. Like Svyrydenko, he was seen as loyal to the president and his team.
His new position as Secretary of Defense means he is not leaving the government altogether, but rather playing a strong role in the cabinet. The Ministry of Defense commands one of the largest budgets and is of vital importance due to the war.
Shmyhal will replace Rustem Umerov, whose tenure is marked by internal turmoil and ongoing dysfunction in Ukraine’s defense procurement system, despite his attempts to push for reform. Critics say the ministry is still troubled by mismanagement despite its active role in the international stage.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
