Who are the key ministers in Ukraine's new government?
KYIV - Parliament approved Yulia Svyrydenko as Ukraine's new prime minister on Thursday and backed her plan to cut the number of ministries, merging some of the main portfolios, to save funds in wartime.
With the new government, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is trying to wrestle wartime defence spending into shape and win over both U.S. President Donald Trump and a war-weary public with fresh-faced leadership.
Here are some key members of the new government, in which Andrii Sybiha remains foreign minister and Serhii Marchenko stays on as finance minister.
PRIME MINISTER YULIA SVYRYDENKO
Svyrydenko, 39, an economist by education, has worked in the government since 2019, rising through the ranks after being a deputy minister to become economy minister and first deputy prime minister. She is tasked with unlocking Ukraine's economic potential during the war raging since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 and increasing domestic weapon production as much as possible.
Svyrydenko played an important role in recent negotiations on an agreement with the United States giving the U.S. preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and funding investment in Ukraine's reconstruction.
MYKHAILO FEDOROV, FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, IN CHARGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore
World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report
Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho
Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore
Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail
Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes
Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment
Singapore Premium China carmaker Hongqi, known for Xi Jinping's limos, to launch in Singapore in 2026
Fedorov, 34, was first appointed a deputy prime minister in 2019. In 2023, his remit grew to include innovation, science and technology, in addition to digital affairs.
He played a prominent role in driving development of military technology through a government-backed platform to nurture private-sector innovation.
DENYS SHMYHAL, DEFENCE MINISTER
Shmyhal, 49, became Ukraine's longest-serving prime minister after being appointed to the role in 2020 and held the role throughout the war until this week's government overhaul.
Parliament has passed a decision to merge the defence ministry and the ministry for strategic industries. Shmyhal will oversee the defence sector, domestic weapon production and international cooperation in weapons and defence.
Shmyhal will also be in charge of the bulk of state spending. Ukraine spends about 36% of gross domestic product on its defence efforts.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said the defence minister will have more resources at his disposal than other ministers but also greater responsibility.
TARAS KACHKA, DEPUTY PM FOR EU INTEGRATION
Kachka, 45, has previously served as Ukraine's trade representative and deputy economy minister, with responsibility for state foreign economic policy and export strategy.
He was also involved in negotiations with the U.S. on the minerals deal and with European Union officials on agricultural trade.
OLEKSII SOBOLEV, MINISTER FOR ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE
Sobolev, 42, will head the new giant ministry for economy, environment and agriculture. Ukraine previously had three separate ministries to cover these portfolios.
Prior to this appointment, he served as first deputy economy minister responsible for state investment policy, managing state property policy and economic development.
Ukraine is a top global producer and exporter of grains and other agricultural products. Agribusiness is a driving force for the war-ravaged economy and the new minister will look at prospects for opening new markets and try to unlock other economic opportunities to help Ukraine's recovery.
SVITLANA HRYNCHUK, ENERGY MINISTER
Hrynchuk, 39, was appointed ecology minister in a government reshuffle in September 2024. Prior to that, she was a deputy energy minister for a year. She also had various other government positions focusing on the energy sector and climate change issues. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Britain condemns Hong Kong's reward offers for suspects living in Britain
Find out what's new on ST website and app. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering payment in exchange for assisting in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain. LONDON - Britain on July 25 condemned Hong Kong authorities for offering payment in exchange for assisting in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain. 'The Hong Kong Police Force's issuing of further arrest warrants and bounties on individuals living in the UK is another example of transnational repression,' Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a joint statement. Hong Kong authorities announced on July 25 that they are offering cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of 19 pro-democracy activists based abroad, accused of violating the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The bounties range from about US$25,000 (S$32,000) to US$125,000, depending on the individual Hong Kong seeks. This is the fourth time Hong Kong authorities have made this type of appeal, which has already drawn strong criticism from Western countries, which China in turn has denounced as 'interference'. In their statement, Mr Lammy and Ms Cooper called on China to stop targeting opposition voices in Britain. Around 150,000 Hong Kong nationals migrated to the UK under a special visa scheme introduced in 2021. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly But a recent proposal by the British government to reform extradition rules has sparked serious concerns, with some fearing it could pave the way for a resumption of extraditions to Hong Kong, which have been suspended since the 2020 national security law was enacted. In their statement, the two British ministers said 'this Government will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, including those who have made the UK their home. We take the protection of their rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously'. AFP
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 26, 2025
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Neighbours Cambodia and Thailand traded deadly strikes for a second day on July 25. Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand: UN envoy Cambodia wants an 'immediate ceasefire' with Thailand, the country's envoy to the United Nations said on July 25, after the neighbours traded deadly strikes for a second day. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on July 24, prompting the Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis on June 25. 'Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire – unconditionally – and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,' said Cambodia's ambassador, Mr Chhea Keo, following a closed meeting of the Council attended by Cambodia and Thailand. The envoy questioned how Thailand, a regional military heavyweight, could accuse Cambodia, its smaller neighbour, of attacking it. READ MORE HERE Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and trade talks PHOTO: REUTERS US President Donald Trump, dogged by questions about his ties to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, arrived in Scotland on July 25 for some golf and bilateral talks that could yield a trade deal with the European Union. Mr Trump told reporters before leaving the US that he will visit his two golf properties in Scotland and meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish leader John Swinney. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand: Envoy to UN Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Opinion ColdplayGate meme fodder isn't an opportunity for a marketing campaign Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Mr Trump said he and Mr Starmer would discuss the US-British trade deal and perhaps even 'improve' it, but gave no details. READ MORE HERE Ukraine facing fierce fighting around Pokrovsk PHOTO: REUTERS President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 25 that Ukrainian forces were facing fierce fighting around the city of Pokrovsk in the east, a logistics hub near which Russia has been announcing the capture of villages on an almost daily basis. Mr Zelensky, speaking in his nightly video address, said Ukraine's top commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, told a meeting of senior officials that the situation around Pokrovsk was the current focal point of its attention in the war, which began when Russia invaded in February 2022. 'All operational directions were covered, with particular focus on Pokrovsk. It receives the most attention,' Mr Zelensky said. READ MORE HERE UK MPs urge Starmer to recognise Palestinian state PHOTO: AFP More than 220 British MPs, including dozens from the ruling Labour party, demanded on July 25 that the UK government formally recognise a Palestinian state, further increasing pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The call, in a letter signed by lawmakers from nine UK political parties, came less than 24 hours after French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state at a UN meeting in September. France would be the first Group of 7 country – and the most powerful European nation to date – to make the move, already drawing condemnation from Israel and the United States. READ MORE HERE Two teens jailed in UK over murder of 14-year-old PHOTO: METROPOLITAN POLICE A British judge on July 25 sentenced two teenagers to life in prison, with a minimum term of 15 years, for stabbing to death a 14-year-old boy on a London bus earlier this year. The attack in January reignited debates around gang violence and the ongoing problem of knife crime that has plagued the British capital and other UK cities for years. On Jan 7, Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed 27 times with machetes on the bus in Woolwich in south-east London.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Ukraine facing fierce fighting around eastern city of Pokrovsk, Zelensky says
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A May 2025 photo shows Ukrainian officials who evacuate people from front-line towns and villages in Pokrovsk, in Ukraine's Donetsk region. KYIV - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 25 that Ukrainian forces were facing fierce fighting around the city of Pokrovsk in the east, a logistics hub near which Russia has been announcing the capture of villages on an almost daily basis. Mr Zelensky, speaking in his nightly video address, said Ukraine's top commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, told a meeting of senior officials that the situation around Pokrovsk was the current focal point of its attention in the war, which began when Russia invaded in February 2022. 'All operational directions were covered, with particular focus on Pokrovsk. It receives the most attention,' Mr Zelensky said. Ukrainian forces, he said, were also 'continuing to act' in border areas in the northern Sumy region, where Russian troops have gained a foothold in recent weeks. Gen Syrskyi, in a separate report on the Telegram messaging app, described Pokrovsk and five other sectors as among the most difficult theatres along the 1,000km front. 'The Russian Federation is paying the maximum price for attempting a 'summer offensive',' Gen Syrskyi wrote. Russian forces have for months been trying to close in on Pokrovsk, a road and rail hub whose pre-war population of about 60,000 has been all but evacuated. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Gen Syrskyi in May reported that Kyiv's troops had stabilised the situation around the town, also the site of the only colliery in Ukraine producing coking coal for the country's steel industry. Russia's Defence Ministry on July 24 announced the capture of two villages on either side of Pokrovsk - Zvirove to the west and Novoekonomichne to the east. A third village near the city - Novotoretske - was declared by Moscow to be 'liberated' earlier in the week. Ukrainian officials have made no acknowledgement that the villages have changed hands. The General Staff of Ukraine's military said in an evening report that two of them - Zvirove and Novoekonomichne - were in areas where Russian troops were trying to penetrate Ukrainian defences. In the Sumy region, where Russian troops are trying to establish what Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin calls a 'buffer zone', the popular Ukrainian military blog DeepState said Kyiv's forces had retaken a previously lost village. DeepState, which relies on open source reports to track the presence of Russian forces, said Ukrainian troops had restored control over the village of Kindrativka. There was no official comment from either side. REUTERS
