Latest news with #Yulia Svyrydenko
Al Arabiya
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Russian-installed govt says Ukrainian strikes kill three
A Ukrainian drone strike on a private bus in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region killed three and wounded another three on Tuesday, Moscow-installed official said. The attack comes as the rivals are due to hold a third round of peace talks to end more than three-year war in Istanbul on Wednesday. 'In the Golopristansky district, a Ukrainian armed forces drone attacked a private bus,' said Vladimir Saldo, a governor of the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region. 'Three people were killed. Three more civilians were injured and are in serious condition,' he added in a Telegram post. At the same time, a Russian drone and missile strike on Ukraine killed a 10-year-old boy in the eastern frontline city of Kramatorsk, and wounded more than a dozen across the country, Kyiv's authorities said. 'Another night of terror across Ukraine,' said Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Russia has fired a record number of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, in deadly attacks which Kyiv says show Moscow is not serious about halting its offensive.
Arab News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Zelensky names new ambassadors during Ukraine political shakeup
MOSCOW: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed over a dozen new ambassadors on Monday, during a big shakeup that has seen him replace top cabinet officials and envoys to shore up relations with Washington and isolate Russia internationally. The new envoys named on Monday include ambassadors to NATO members Belgium, Canada, Estonia and Spain, as well as major donor Japan and regional heavyweights South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Zelensky launched a major government reshuffle last week, promoting Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, who had served as economy minister and is well known in Washington, to head the cabinet as prime minister. Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna is set to become Ukraine's new envoy to the United States, as Ukraine seeks to mend ties with the Trump administration. In remarks to the diplomatic corps released by his office, Zelensky said envoys needed to support 'everything that causes Russia pain for its war.' 'While the content of our relationship with America has transformed following the change in administration, the goal remains unchanged: Ukraine must withstand Russia's strikes,' Zelensky said.
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Zelenskiy names new ambassadors during Ukraine political shakeup
July 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointed over a dozen new ambassadors on Monday, during a big shakeup that has seen him replace top cabinet officials and envoys to shore up relations with Washington and isolate Russia internationally. The new envoys named on Monday include ambassadors to NATO members Belgium, Canada, Estonia and Spain, as well as major donor Japan and regional heavyweights South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Zelenskiy launched a major government reshuffle last week, promoting Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, who had served as economy minister and is well known in Washington, to head the cabinet as prime minister. Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna is set to become Ukraine's new envoy to the United States, as Ukraine seeks to mend ties with the Trump administration. In remarks to the diplomatic corps released by his office, Zelenskiy said envoys needed to support "everything that causes Russia pain for its war". "While the content of our relationship with America has transformed following the change in administration, the goal remains unchanged: Ukraine must withstand Russia's strikes," Zelenskiy said.
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Ukraine reshuffles Cabinet with wartime economy struggling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered the biggest government shake-up since Russia's full-scale invasion as the country faces a pressing need to find more money for its defense following failed diplomatic efforts to end the war. Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was appointed as the new premier in a Cabinet stacked with presidential loyalists, many with experience of working with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Svyrydenko helped broker a landmark minerals deal with Washington earlier this year. Ukrainian lawmakers approved Svyrydenko's nomination and will vote on the entire Cabinet overhaul later on Thursday. Serhiy Marchenko and Andrii Sybiha were nominated to continue their roles as finance minister and the country's top diplomat. The reshuffle reflects Ukraine's effort to increase spending on its war effort and to strengthen — at times — strained relations with Trump administration. "The two main challenges are weapons and money,' said Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Penta Research Institute in Kyiv. "How effectively the government can respond to them will largely determine whether we can withstand the Russian invasion next year.' Trump this week pledged fresh weapons supplies to Kyiv that would be paid for by NATO allies, mainly from Europe. He also threatened harsh economic penalties on Russia if President Vladimir Putin doesn't end his war within 50 days. The announcement offered hope of stronger support following a series of massive Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. On Wednesday, Ukraine's parliament backed a bill amending the 2025 budget to boost defense spending by 412 billion hryvnia ($10 billion) this year. The country faces a $40 billion shortfall to cover social spending, including next year's salary and pension payments, for which it needs external financing. Svyrydenko has gained clout from previous work with the U.S., which puts her in a good position to spearhead Ukraine's drive for more economic support, Fesenko said. Zelenskyy also proposed Olha Stefanishyna as envoy to the U.S., praising her "successful work' in building ties with Washington in her role as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. Like Svyrydenko, she also worked on the minerals deal with the U.S. The reshuffle regroups Ukraine's arms industry under the Defense Ministry, which will now be led by former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The newly expanded Defense Ministry remit reflects the growing importance of Ukraine's domestic arms production, which currently covers 40% of what its forces use on the battlefield. While defense procurement budget is around $12 billion, the country's industry has the capacity to produce military hardware worth three times that amount. But it lacks sufficient funding. Ukraine's domestic weapons production must increase to make up 50% of the military's equipment during the first six months of the new government, Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Wednesday. Weapons production will remain a key driver of growth, but a major challenge will be to stimulate economic growth in non-military sectors during wartime, said Olena Bilan, chief economist at the Kyiv-based investment bank Dragon Capital. "I view it positively that technocrats who have proven their effectiveness in previous roles are being promoted,' Bilan said of the government's reshuffle, pointing to the urgent need to guarantee continued external financing.
NHK
5 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Ukrainian parliament approves Yulia Svyrydenko as new prime minister
Ukraine's former economy minister and the key negotiator in the mineral deal with the US, Yulia Svyrydenko, has become the new prime minister. She had also served as first deputy prime minister. Lawmakers in parliament approved the 39-year-old's appointment, as well as those of new Cabinet ministers, on Thursday. This marks Ukraine's first government reshuffle since the start of Russia's invasion in 2022. Addressing lawmakers in Kyiv, Svyrydenko said: "Our task is to give Ukrainians all possible tools to protect the independence and the life of Ukraine. We will accomplish this task." Svyrydenko played a key role in talks with the US in April to jointly develop Ukraine's mineral resources. Her nomination is seen as a move to strengthen ties with Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects the new Cabinet to boost domestic arms manufacturing. He wants the share of such weapons to increase from 40 percent to 50 percent over the next six months. He also spoke of future agreements with the US that he says would strengthen Ukraine, but he didn't provide further details. Zelenskyy later posted on social media that he signed a decree appointing former Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna as ambassador to the United States.
