Zelensky orders cabinet reshuffle as Ukraine’s Prime Minister steps down

Yulia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine, is stepping down from her post as President Volodymyr Zelensky plans a restructuring of his government, saying there are “new challenges and new tasks” that the nation must confront.

The parliament of Ukraine voted on Tuesday in favor of the resignation of Svyrydenko, paving the way for the appointment of a new Prime Minister.

So far, no name has been proposed by Zelensky as the successor of Svyrydenko, who stepped down due to the need to alter Kyiv’s political approach amidst an ongoing war with Russia.

“Ukraine is changing its political strategy” amid “new challenges and new tasks,” the Ukrainian president said.

Svyrydenko was appointed prime minister in July 2025 and was considered a key figure in Ukraine’s relations with Washington after playing a role in negotiating a minerals investment agreement with the United States following Zelensky’s public clash with President Donald Trump at the White House.

Her resignation comes at a critical stage of the war, with Russia intensifying missile attacks across Ukraine and Kyiv seeking to expand domestic production of advanced weapons systems, including US Patriot air defence equipment.

Zelensky had announced plans for the government reshuffle over the weekend, saying he intended to assign new responsibilities to officials handling different areas of foreign policy.

He also disclosed that he had offered Svyrydenko another role focused on managing “relations with a key partner,” although he did not provide further details.

The office of prime minister in Ukraine does not traditionally oversee military strategy or frontline operations, which remain under the authority of Zelensky and the country’s military leadership.

Reacting to her departure, Svyrydenko said her administration had achieved “concrete results” during her time in office.

She shared a photograph of herself making a heart symbol with her hands while addressing lawmakers.

Ukrainian media reports have identified Sergiy Koretsky, chief executive officer of state energy company Naftogaz, as the leading candidate to replace Svyrydenko.

Zelensky met with Koretsky over the weekend shortly after announcing plans to remove Svyrydenko and praised his “effective leadership” in what he described as an “extremely complex sector.”

Energy remains a major concern for Ukraine, with the country’s electricity infrastructure suffering extensive damage from Russian attacks. Widespread power outages have continued to affect communities, particularly during the winter months.