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Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Ukraine's Zelenskyy names new prime minister for first time since Russia's war began
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named a new prime minister for the first time since Russia invaded the eastern European nation more than three years ago. Ukrainian lawmakers announced on social media Thursday that parliament had voted by a comfortable majority in favor of Yuliia Svyrydenko becoming the country's new prime minister. Svyrydenko, 39, last month negotiated a major U.S.–Ukraine minerals and investment framework with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Zelenskyy said earlier this week that he proposed that Svyrydenko, who previously served as economy minister and one of Ukraine's deputy prime ministers since November 2021, lead the government as he initiated "a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine." He shared a photo of them together and said they discussed "concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production." It's the most significant Ukrainian government restructuring since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, and is viewed by opposition lawmakers as a way for Zelenskyy to consolidate power. Ukraine has been under martial law since the day after the invasion. "They will be told by the president's office what they should really do," Yaroslav Zheleznyak, of the Holos party, told Reuters, arguing the new government would be indebted to Zelenskyy, who has significant wartime powers under the constitution. Svyrydenko will replace outgoing Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the longest-serving head of government in Ukraine's history. He held the position for more than five years after being appointed on March 4, 2020. Shmyhal, who met with U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellog this week after President Donald Trump approved the sale of more Patriot systems, will take on a new role as Ukraine's defense minister, according to the parliament's website. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, congratulated Svyrydenko and Shmyhal on their new roles. "We stand fully behind you as you fight for Ukraine's survival and work for your country's recovery and EU future," she wrote to Svyrydenko. For Shmyhal, she said, "Best wishes for your key new role as Defence Minister." The defense ministry commands one of the largest budgets and carries critical importance because of the war. Shmyhal will replace Rustem Umerov, who, although he sought to push reforms, saw his tenure marked by internal turbulence and persistent dysfunction in Ukraine's defense procurement system. Despite his active role on the international stage, critics said the ministry remained plagued by mismanagement. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy posted a photo from his meeting with Svyrydenko and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. "We are preparing the initial steps of the renewed Government," Zelenskyy wrote, identifying the key priorities over the next six months as "increasing domestic weapons production in Ukraine, fully contracting the required volumes of all types of drones for Ukraine's Defense Forces, carrying out substantial deregulation and unlocking our country's internal economic potential, and ensuring full implementation of social support programs for our people." "We defined the results that can be achieved within the first half-year of the new Government's work," Zelenskyy added. Svyrydenko has frequently represented Ukraine in high-level talks with Western partners, focusing on defense cooperation, economic recovery and reconstruction. Lawmakers and fellow officials describe her as a diligent executive with a reputation for loyalty to the presidential office, according to the Associated Press. Of the 450-seat parliament, 262 lawmakers voted in favor of Svyrydenko becoming prime minister, Reuters reported, citing posts from a handful of lawmakers, including Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who posted a photo of the electronic voting table. The table showed 22 lawmakers voted against Svyrydenko and 26 abstained. The Ukrainian parliament does not broadcast sessions during wartime, according to Reuters.
Fox News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Zelenskyy shakes up Ukrainian government, with US weapons on the way
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reshuffling the government as his country's war with Russia rages more than three years after it began. First Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has been tapped to lead the next government as prime minister. Meanwhile, current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is set to serve as the country's next defense minister. Zelenskyy named Svyrydenko as his pick for prime minister in a post on X saying the two met to discuss goals for the country. "We also discussed concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production. In pursuit of this goal, we are initiating a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine. I have proposed that Yuliia Svyrydenko lead the government of Ukraine and significantly renew its work. I look forward to the presentation of the new government's action plan in the near future," Zelenskyy wrote on Monday. Svyrydenko thanked Zelenskyy in her own post on X, and laid out the "priority tasks" defined by the president, including strengthening the economy, increasing domestic weapons production and expanding government support programs. "These tasks can be achieved through tangible deregulation, the elimination of bureaucratic obstacles, the reduction of non-critical state expenditures and duplication of functions within state institutions, the protection of entrepreneurship, and the full concentration of state resources for the defense of Ukraine and recovery after hostilities," Svyrydenko wrote. In Ukraine, the president nominates the country's prime minister, but the appointment must be approved by the Verkhovna Rada, the country's parliament, to become official. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said he held a meeting with Svyrydenko and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Innovations, Development of Education, Science and Technologies Mykhailo Fedorov to discuss "key priorities" for the next government. These include what he laid out for Svyrydenko as well as "fully contracting the required volumes of all types of drones" Ukranian forces need. Outgoing prime minister Shmyhal, who has served in the role since 2020, is set to replace current Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, whom Zelenskyy reportedly suggested would become the country's next ambassador to the U.S., according to Reuters. Zelenskyy praised Shmyhal — the country's longest-serving head of government since it gained independence in 1991— for his "vast experience," according to reports.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Zelensky names new prime minister, taps official who spearheaded US minerals deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on Monday to lead a new government, setting the stage for a political reshuffle as Ukraine's war with Russia raged on. Zelensky also proposed that Ukraine's current prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, take over as defence minister, describing him as holding the right qualifications for a very important job. The nominations, which require parliamentary approval, came as diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fourth year, have stalled and as Ukraine seeks to revive its cash-strapped economy and build up a domestic arms industry. 'We … discussed concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programmes for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production,' Zelensky wrote on social media. 'In pursuit of this goal, we are initiating a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine ,' he said, adding that he had proposed that Svyrydenko lead the government and 'significantly renew its work'. Svyrydenko, 39, is an economist and has served as first deputy prime minister since 2021. She played a key role in recent negotiations for a minerals deal with the United States In his nightly video address, Zelensky praised Shmyhal's 'vast experience' as very 'valuable in the position of minister of defence of Ukraine'.
Al Arabiya
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Zelenskyy says he asked deputy PM, economy minister Svyrydenko to be prime minister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that he asked First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko at a meeting in Kyiv to become prime minister. 'We ... discussed concrete measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians, and scale up our domestic weapons production,' he wrote on X. 'In pursuit of this goal, we are initiating a transformation of the executive branch in Ukraine,' he said, adding that he had proposed that Svyrydenko lead the government and 'significantly renew its work.'
