Latest news with #DenysShmyhal


Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Ukraine appoints new prime minister in major government reshuffle
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed a new prime minister and other key leaders in the largest government reshuffle since Russia invaded three years ago. Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, took over as prime minister from Denys Shmyhal, who had held the post since 2020, following her confirmation on Thursday by Ukraine's parliament. Svyrydenko previously served as first deputy prime minister and minister of economic development and trade, roles that brought her in close contact with the administration of United States President Donald Trump. She was credited with negotiating a critical mineral deal between Washington and Kyiv earlier this year that helped thaw an initially frosty relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy. Svyrydenko said on social media that she intends to focus on expanding Ukraine's domestic weapons production and the strength of its armed forces, and supporting the economy. 'Our Government sets its course toward a Ukraine that stands firm on its own foundations — military, economic, and social,' she said. 'My key goal is real, positive results that every Ukrainian will feel in daily life. War leaves no room for delay. We must act swiftly and decisively,' she said. It is a great honor for me to lead the Government of Ukraine today. Our Government sets its course toward a Ukraine that stands firm on its own foundations — military, economic, and social. My key goal is real, positive results that every Ukrainian will feel in daily life. War… — Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) July 17, 2025 Outgoing Prime Minister Shmyhal, 49, will step in as defence minister, taking over a ministry that has struggled with a series of corruption scandals. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, 50, will stay in place, but Zelenskyy has named outgoing Justice Minister Olga Stefanishyna, 39, as his next ambassador to the US, pending US approval. Stefanishyna has experience working with the European Union and NATO and also played a role in negotiating the recent mineral deal with the Trump administration. Stefanishyna will replace outgoing envoy Oksana Markarova, who earned the ire of Trump due to her positive working relationship with the administration of former US President Joe Biden. Reports last week indicated that Zelenskyy was planning to choose Defence Minister Rustem Umerov as his next US envoy, but he was allegedly not approved by Washington, according to opposition MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak. Other reshuffles will see deputies Oleksiy Sobolev and Taras Kachka take over as the minister of economy, environment and agriculture and deputy prime minister for European integration. Despite the shake-up in positions, critics say the new faces in Zelenskyy's cabinet remain largely the same. They have also accused the Ukrainian leader of consolidating power by stacking key government posts with his 'loyalists'.


Forbes
2 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Thursday, July 17. Russia's War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine
Newly appointed Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko attends a session of Ukrainian parliament ... More in Kyiv on July 17, 2025, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. (Photo by ANDRII NESTERENKO/AFP via Getty Images) Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 1,240 Ukrainian Major Government Reshuffle Ukraine's parliament appointed Yuliia Svyrydenko as the new prime minister on July 17, marking the country's first change at such a high level since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February, 2022. The new, trimmer government led by Svyrydenko consists of just 16 members, one of the smallest cabinets in the country's history. This downsizing resulted from merging some ministries, such as folding the Ministry of Strategic Industries into the Defense Ministry. The cabinet retains most ministers from the previous government. Svyrydenko pledged to prioritize reliable army supply, expansion of domestic weapons production and boosting the defense forces' technological strength. 'We must act swiftly and decisively,' she wrote in a post on X. Her efforts, however, will be constrained by a growing budget deficit and shrinking financial support from allies, most importantly the U.S. One of the most consequential changes is the appointment of former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as the new defense minister. While his new post appears to be a demotion, Shmyhal will take charge of a critical ministry that commands nearly half the nation's budget during a critical phase of the war, shaped by drones and U.S. President Donald Trump's shifting positions. In an address to parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he expects the new government to increase the share of domestically produced weapons to 50% from the current 40% within six months. In addition, he has appointed Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna as a special envoy to the U.S. She is expected to replace the current Ukrainian ambassador to Washington, Oksana Makarova. U.S. and Ukraine Explore 'Mega Deal' to Boost Bilateral Military Capabilities Trump and Zelenskyy are reportedly negotiating a 'mega deal' that could boost lagging U.S. drone capabilities by making use of Ukrainian drones. According to Zelenskyy, the agreement would involve U.S. purchases of Ukrainian drones tested in the war with Russia. Kyiv, in turn, would procure a range of American weapons. 'The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,' Zelenskyy told The New York Post. The Ukraine conflict has starkly illuminated the role of drones in modern warfare: both sides exchange hundreds of aerial strikes daily. Some of the most notable drone operations, such as Ukraine's destruction of dozens of Russian strategic bombers in 'Operation Spider's Web,' might rewrite the future of warfare. U.S. military experts acknowledge that America trails adversaries such as Russia and China in drone technology and operational proficiency. Trent Emeneker, project manager at the Defense Department's Defense Innovation Unit, lamented, 'If we had to go to war tomorrow, do we have what we need? No.' This capability gap was highlighted in a recent Defense Department exercise in Alaska, where soldiers struggled to counter prototype drones. In response to these challenges, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a reduction of bureaucratic hurdles impeding drone production to 'match capabilities to the threats of today.' Russian Attacks on Ukraine Russia saturated Ukrainian airspace with 400 drones and ballistic missiles overnight into July 16. Ukraine's Air Force reported intercepting 198 Shahed drones, with another 145 decoy drones suppressed via electronic warfare systems; some 57 drones and missiles, however, reached targets across 12 regions. The strike reportedly concentrated on Kryvyi Rih, where the city mayor called the attack the most intense since the onset of the war, and Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv. While no deaths were reported, the nationwide barrage wounded at least 15 people. Russian forces also launched daytime strikes on July 14-16, killing at least 15 civilians across Ukraine. In the oft-struck eastern province of Donetsk, Russian shelling killed seven civilians and wounded 48 others. In the northeastern Kharkiv province, three residents were killed and 19 others wounded. In the southern Kherson region, Russian drone strikes killed two civilians and wounded another 29; in the central Dnipropetrovsk province, two people were killed and 14 more wounded, while in the northern Sumy region, one person was reported dead following a Russian strike. Ukraine's Internal Scandals Escalate Amid Accusations of Authoritarianism Zelenskyy faces growing accusations of authoritarian rule amid a series of major political scandals. As recently as July 11, officers from Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation forcibly searched the home of anti-corruption campaigner Vitaliy Shabunin in Kharkiv, reportedly seizing personal phones and laptops without court warrants. The Ukrainian government previously rejected the appointment of anti-corruption detective Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, who had been independently selected by a vetting commission, to head the Economic Security Bureau (ESB), an agency responsible for investigating internal economic crimes. Among the reasons cited for his rejection was alleged ties to Russia, despite no prior objections to him from the national Security Service. According to Ukrainian law, the government has only 10 days in which to appoint an ESB director from a list of candidates approved by the competition commission. The government has no authority to request reconsideration of the vote or reject a nominee selected by the commission, which declined to hold a new vote. The Ukrainian opposition and Zelenskyy's critics argue that his government favors loyalists in senior political positions while sidelining independent voices. Further, independent Ukrainian media outlets and civil society groups have issued public statements over recent politically-charged scandals, warning that the government's use of martial law to suppress political opponents risks reversing the democratic progress made in Ukraine since 2014. U.S. and European allies have unexpectedly remained silent in the face of Ukraine's recent internal governmental concerns. Some officials, however, privately worry that with the war still raging in its fourth year, Ukraine's political leadership feels emboldened to push the limits of democracy as the West's oversight apparently has shifted away. If left unchecked, those actions risk damaging Ukraine's nascent democratic institutions. Critics emphasize that the nation's future depends not only on military resilience but on maintaining transparency and the rule of law. By Danylo Nosov, Alan Sacks


Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Times
Zelensky appoints dealmaker PM after purge of tainted ministers
The woman who clinched Ukraine's controversial minerals deal with President Trump became its prime minister on Thursday. Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, is the second female premier in the country's history, as well as its second youngest. She replaces Denys Shmyhal, 49, in a sweeping reshuffle designed by President Zelensky to shore up support from international partners while retaining old-guard loyalists. As minister for the economy, Svyrydenko won praise for negotiating the deal with the US and leading a delegation at last week's Ukraine Recovery Conference that won pledges of billions of dollars in support from the country's allies. She is expected to build on good relations with Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary, to steady Kyiv's rollercoaster alliance with the White House. 'She's young, dynamic, and has experience having difficult talks with the US and other governments,' said Oleskiy Haran, a professor in politics at the Kyiv-Mohyla academy, Ukraine's leading university. 'She has experience with this agreement on critical minerals, which wasn't easy.'


News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal Resigns, Yulia Svyrydenko Poised To Take Over
Last Updated: Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal resigned after Zelenskyy nominated Yulia Svyrydenko as PM. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that he has submitted his resignation letter, marking the beginning of a significant government reshuffle as the country battles political fatigue and relentless Russian attacks. The resignation comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nominated First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to take over as Ukraine's new prime minister. Zelenskyy Proposes Denys Shmyhal As Ukraine's New Defence Minister Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed Denys Shmyhal to serve as the country's next Minister of Defence, saying, 'The vast experience of Denys Shmyhal will certainly be valuable in the position of Minister of Defence of Ukraine. This is precisely the area where the country's maximum resources, maximum tasks, and a great deal of responsibility are currently concentrated." If approved by parliament, Denys Shmyhal would shift from his role as prime minister to oversee Ukraine's defense strategy at a time of intensifying Russian attacks and growing demand for military and logistical coordination. Moscow has ramped up its drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks as it launched record numbers of strikes, causing widespread civilian casualties and damaging critical infrastructure across the country. In just the past month, major urban centers including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro have come under sustained aerial bombardment. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Ukraine Confirms Yuliia Svyrydenko As Prime Minister In Sweeping Cabinet Overhaul News18
Former Ukrainian economy minister Yuliia Svyrydenko was appointed as the new prime minister of the country, news agency AP reported on replaced Denys Shmyhal on the job, who announced his resignation on Tuesday. He held the position for over five years after his appointment on March 4, 2020. News18 Mobile App -