Latest news with #governmentreshuffle
Al Jazeera
18-07-2025
- 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
17-07-2025
- 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
Irish Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Ukraine overhauls government to boost defence production and ties with US
Ukraine appointed a new prime minister as part of its biggest government reshuffle in nearly 3½ years of full-scale war with Russia , as Nato 's top commander said additional Patriot air defence systems would be sent to Kyiv 'as quickly as possible'. Parliament in Kyiv approved a new cabinet led by Yulia Svyrydenko, who as economy minister was praised in April for finalising a deal to give the US priority access to Ukraine's rare earths and other natural resources and to form a joint fund for postwar reconstruction. '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,' said Ms Svyrydenko (39). 'War leaves no room for delay ... Our priorities for the first six months are clear: reliable supply for the army, expansion of domestic weapons production and boosting the technological strength of our defence forces. This same urgency must apply to the economy as we make every effort to support Ukrainian entrepreneurs.' US treasury secretary Scott Bessent and then Ukrainian first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko signing the mineral resources agreement. Photograph: US Treasury Department/X She pledged to bring about 'comprehensive deregulation, an end to unlawful pressure on business, acceleration of large-scale privatisation' and a 'full audit of public spending' which has echoes of the department of government efficiency created by tech billionaire Elon Musk for the administration of US president Donald Trump . [ Ukraine's new prime minister: a dealmaker and potential bridge between Washington and Kyiv Opens in new window ] 'Building our own strength. More weapons production. Deregulation. Closer co-operation with partners. Justice. Digitalisation. Better care for our heroes and their families. These are key priorities ... for the new government,' said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy . Outgoing prime minister Denys Shmyhal (49) was named as minister for defence. Svitlana Hrynchuk (39) moves from being minister for the environment to minister for energy, replacing Herman Halushchenko (52), who becomes minister for justice. Analysts said Ms Svyrydenko's contacts with the Trump administration are important at a time when Ukraine's relations with the Trump administration are both vital and delicate. Mr Zelenskiy also announced that Olha Stefanishyna, a deputy prime minister responsible for Euro-Atlantic integration, would be Kyiv's new ambassador to Washington. Ukraine hopes the US will increase pressure on the Kremlin to end its invasion after Mr Trump pledged this week to send more arms to Kyiv via Nato and to slap 'severe' tariffs on Russian trade unless Moscow sought peace within 50 days. Switzerland said it had been informed by Washington that scheduled arrival of five Patriot systems between 2026-2028 would be delayed after the US decided to 'reprioritise the delivery of Patriot systems to support Ukraine.' Germany and other Nato states are expected to send Patriots to Ukraine and receive replacements from the US. Top Nato commander Alexus Grynkewich said 'preparations are under way' to deliver Patriots 'as quickly as possible' to Ukraine.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelensky names new PM as he shakes up cabinet in bid to reinvigorate war effort
Ukraine's economy minister and the key negotiator in the mineral deal with the US has been appointed as the country's new prime minister. Yulia Svyrydenko has become the country's first new head of government since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Ms Svyrydenko is one of a group of officials taking on new roles in Ukraine's government, as President Volodymyr Zelensky reshuffles the Cabinet in a bid to energise a war-weary nation and boost domestic weapons production in the face of Russia's grinding invasion. At home, however, the cabinet recalibration has not been seen as a major shift, as the Ukrainian leader continues to rely on officials who have proven their effectiveness and loyalty during the war, now in its fourth year. Mr Zelensky submitted nominations on Thursday to shuffle top government positions, including the replacement of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the longest-serving head of government in Ukraine's history. Mr Shmyhal now moves to become defence minister, according to the parliamentary website. Other changes are expected in the cabinet, but Ms Svyrydenko's appointment as prime minister is taking centre-stage. She played a key role in negotiating a US–Ukraine mineral agreement, ensuring the terms were acceptable to Kyiv. Ms Svyrydenko has frequently represented Ukraine in high-level talks with western partners, focusing on defence co-operation, economic recovery and reconstruction. Politicians and fellow officials describe her as a diligent executive with a reputation for loyalty to the presidential office.
BreakingNews.ie
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Zelensky names new PM as he shakes up cabinet in bid to reinvigorate war effort
Ukraine's economy minister and the key negotiator in the mineral deal with the US has been appointed as the country's new prime minister. Yulia Svyrydenko has become the country's first new head of government since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Advertisement Ms Svyrydenko is one of a group of officials taking on new roles in Ukraine's government, as President Volodymyr Zelensky reshuffles the Cabinet in a bid to energise a war-weary nation and boost domestic weapons production in the face of Russia's grinding invasion. At home, however, the cabinet recalibration has not been seen as a major shift, as the Ukrainian leader continues to rely on officials who have proven their effectiveness and loyalty during the war, now in its fourth year. Yulia Svyrydenko is the new PM (AP) Mr Zelensky submitted nominations on Thursday to shuffle top government positions, including the replacement of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the longest-serving head of government in Ukraine's history. Mr Shmyhal now moves to become defence minister, according to the parliamentary website. Advertisement Other changes are expected in the cabinet, but Ms Svyrydenko's appointment as prime minister is taking centre-stage. She played a key role in negotiating a US–Ukraine mineral agreement, ensuring the terms were acceptable to Kyiv. Ms Svyrydenko has frequently represented Ukraine in high-level talks with western partners, focusing on defence co-operation, economic recovery and reconstruction. Politicians and fellow officials describe her as a diligent executive with a reputation for loyalty to the presidential office.
