Ukraine’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, emphasizes her commitment to bolstering weapons production and enhancing the economy in her inaugural role.
Yulia Svyrydenko, at 39, succeeds Denys Shmyhal, who had held the position since 2020, after her confirmation by Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday.
Svyrydenko, who previously held the roles of first deputy prime minister and minister of economic development and trade, has a background of close engagement with the United States President Donald Trump’s administration. She played a pivotal role in negotiating a mineral deal between Washington and Kyiv, which helped to improve diplomatic relations between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Expressing her vision on social media, Svyrydenko has pledged to focus on expanding Ukraine’s ability to produce weapons domestically, fortifying its armed forces, and supporting the economy.
“Our Government is charting a path towards a Ukraine that stands robustly on its own—be it military, economic, or socially. My priority is delivering tangible, positive outcomes that every Ukrainian citizen will experience in their daily lives. There is no time to lose; we must act with urgency and resolve,” she articulated.
It is a profound honor to lead the Government of Ukraine today.
Our Government steers towards a Ukraine robust on its military, economic, and social pillars. My overriding goal is tangible, positive outcomes for every Ukrainian’s daily life.
War leaves no time for delay. We must act swiftly and decisively.
— Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) July 17, 2025
Denys Shmyhal, the outgoing Prime Minister, aged 49, is set to take over the defense ministry, a role marred by successive corruption scandals.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, 50, will retain his position, while Zelenskyy has appointed outgoing Justice Minister Olga Stefanishyna, 39, as Ukraine’s next ambassador to the United States, awaiting US approval. Stefanishyna, with experience in the European Union and NATO, also contributed to the recent mineral pact with the Trump government.
Stefanishyna will replace Oksana Markarova, whose relationship with ex-US President Joe Biden’s administration drew the ire of Trump.
Initial plans reportedly aimed to appoint Defence Minister Rustem Umerov as the next US envoy. However, these were allegedly not approved by Washington, according to opposition MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak.
Further shuffles include the appointments of Oleksiy Sobolev and Taras Kachka to the roles of minister of economy, environment, and agriculture, and deputy prime minister for European integration, respectively.
Despite these changes in roles, critics contend that the new members of Zelenskyy’s cabinet, while new in position, largely remain from the same circle. They also accuse Zelenskyy of strengthening his hold on power by appointing “loyalists” to pivotal government positions.
