Kyiv, Ukraine — July 15, 2025: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has formally nominated First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to head the country’s next government, initiating a long-anticipated cabinet overhaul aimed at reinvigorating Ukraine’s political leadership amid ongoing war and economic challenges.
The announcement came on Sunday via a post on X, formerly Twitter, where Zelensky stated that he expected a “significant renewal” of government performance under Svyrydenko’s stewardship. He added that the new cabinet would soon present a detailed roadmap for policy and reform implementation.
Zelensky’s nomination of Svyrydenko marks the first official step toward replacing current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, whose resignation is required to move the process forward.
Under the Ukrainian Constitution, a new prime minister must be elected by parliament following the incumbent’s formal departure. Once Shmyhal resigns, lawmakers will have 30 days to confirm a new leader.
Zelensky’s ruling Servant of the People party currently holds a majority in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada, with at least 231 seats. The parliamentary session reconvening this week is expected to swiftly consider the nomination, with observers predicting little resistance within Zelensky’s faction.
Earlier on July 14, Zelensky held a closed-door meeting with Svyrydenko, during which the two discussed pressing national priorities, including deepening cooperation with Western allies such as the United States and European Union, expanding domestic arms production, and pushing forward structural reforms. Revitalizing Ukraine’s war-weary economy was also a key topic of discussion.
Svyrydenko, 38, has served as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy since 2021 and has been a key figure in Ukraine’s wartime economic management. Her elevation to the top post would make her Ukraine’s first female prime minister since Yulia Tymoshenko’s last term ended in 2010.
Shmyhal, who has been in office since March 2020, is the longest-serving Ukrainian prime minister since the country gained independence in 1991.
Though his position appeared secure through previous waves of cabinet reshuffles, speculation over his dismissal intensified during the summer of 2024. Still, Zelensky delayed any change until now, likely due to wartime considerations.
Analysts believe the decision to advance Svyrydenko’s nomination is part of Zelensky’s broader strategy to refresh his administration ahead of upcoming international aid negotiations and continued battlefield pressures.
If approved, Svyrydenko will face the monumental task of guiding Ukraine through recovery, economic stabilization, and integration with Euro-Atlantic institutions—all under the strain of an ongoing war with Russia.