Sviridenko has just completed one year as Prime Minister, and Zelenskyy is already preparing to replace her
On July 13, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Chairman Stepankov posted on Facebook that the resignation letter of Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko had been delivered to parliament. "The Verkhovna Rada has received Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko's resignation. The parliament will review the matter as soon as possible in accordance with legal procedures."
Stepankov expressed gratitude to Sviridenko for her work, noting that she led the cabinet during an extremely difficult period for the country, making significant contributions to stabilizing the national economy, ensuring people's livelihoods, and advancing Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union.
Sviridenko assumed office as Prime Minister on July 17, 2025, having now served exactly one year. Since November 2021, she served as Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy; earlier, she held the position of Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration.
On July 12, Zelenskyy had already informed the cabinet of an upcoming major personnel reshuffle. He stated that Ukraine would adjust its overall governance strategy, saying, "Each core diplomatic direction will be fully managed by experienced specialists," emphasizing that this personnel adjustment would ensure the successful implementation of a new national strategic vision.
Zelenskyy praised Sviridenko’s clear, stable, and efficient governance during her tenure as Prime Minister, thanked her for her substantial achievements within Ukraine’s government team over the years, and proposed assigning her to a new, important task involving key international partners. Zelenskyy also revealed that leadership changes across various law enforcement agencies would take place simultaneously.
The identity of the new Prime Minister has not yet been finalized, but the public is widely focusing on several seasoned officials, including:
-- Serhiy Kolesnik: CEO of Naftogaz, considered the most likely successor.
-- Denys Shmyhal: Former Prime Minister, currently Minister of Energy.
-- Mykhailo Fedorov: Current Minister of Defense.
-- Ihor Terekhov: Mayor of Kharkiv.
In general, this cabinet reshuffle represents a major strategic adjustment by Ukraine as it enters the fifth year of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, aimed at enhancing national governance capabilities, strengthening defense infrastructure, and addressing challenges related to external aid and diplomatic coordination.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870645580191756/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author