Ukraine: Zelenskyy plans government reshuffle

Ukraine is under severe militarily, economically, and politically pressure due to the Russian war of aggression . Now President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to reshuffle the government. His Minister of Economic Affairs is set to become the new Prime Minister.

"I have proposed that Yulia Svyrydenko lead the Ukrainian government and significantly renew its work," Zelenskyy announced. Svyrydenko is expected to replace the current incumbent, Denys Shmyhal, as Prime Minister of Ukraine, provided parliament approves.

Shmyhal has been head of government in Kyiv since March 2020, before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine. He is the longest-serving prime minister since the country's independence in 1991.

His successor, Yulia Svyrydenko, nominated by Zelensky, is 39 years old, a trained economist, and already the country's deputy prime minister. The appointment is intended to better develop Ukraine's economic potential, the president stated. Zelensky announced that he had also discussed with Svyrydenko measures to improve aid for citizens in the country and to increase arms production.

Swyrydenko negotiated raw materials agreements with the USA

Since the beginning of the war, Swyrydenko has been involved in securing international aid and loans. She gained greater prominence during the weeks-long negotiations on a raw materials agreement with the United States , which was signed in Washington at the end of April. She proved to be a tough negotiator.

Former Ukrainian Economy Minister Tymofiy Mylovanov described Svyrydenko as a "key figure" in the negotiations with Washington. She is "very efficient" and keeps her cool, he told the AFP news agency. Svyrydenko belongs to a young generation of Ukrainian leaders who steered the country through the Russian invasion and are markedly different from the Soviet-style elites that dominate Russia .

Speculation about government reshuffle

The formation of a government is not entirely unexpected. The previous prime minister, Shmyhal, had relatively limited influence. Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament from the small pro-European Holos party, had predicted Shmyhal's downfall in mid-June. His cabinet "is losing more and more support," Zheleznyak said at the time.

In addition, there has recently been increasing speculation about another important appointment: Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov was being discussed as a possible ambassador to Washington. Media reports say that Zelenskyy wants to accommodate US President Donald Trump by replacing the current ambassador, Oksana Markarova.

Trump's Republicans are accusing Markarova of being too politically close to the US Democrats , i.e., the opposition in Washington. Rustem Umyerov is considered a confidant of Zelensky, but has also already established good contacts in Washington.

Zelenskyy himself fueled speculation over the weekend with his evening video message. There, he said that both the Defense Ministry and diplomacy, especially with the United States, needed a new dynamic.

In parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, the dismissal of the old government is scheduled for this Wednesday, and the appointment of the new one is scheduled for Thursday. The replacement of the government bench requires the approval of the deputies in Kyiv, but is considered likely: Since the Russian invasion, parliament has largely backed Zelensky.

AR/an (afp, dpa, rtr)

Editorial deadline 5:55 p.m. (CEST) - This article will not be updated further.