In a major change to Ukraine’s leadership, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has put forward Yuliia Svyrydenko, currently the Deputy Prime Minister, to become the new head of government. This decision, announced on Monday, July 14, 2025, places a close ally of Zelenskyy and his powerful advisor, Andriy Yermak, in charge during the second major reshuffle of the wartime government.
The proposed appointment is especially significant because of Svyrydenko’s key role in the controversial Ukraine-U.S. mineral deal, an economic agreement meant to give the U.S. opportunities to profit from Ukraine’s large mineral reserves. According to Politico, Yuliia Svyrydenko, who also holds the position of Minister of Economic Development, has been a leading figure in pushing this economic agreement forward.
The deal is described as a partnership that allows the United States to benefit from Ukraine’s substantial mineral resources. This economic cooperation is intended to secure U.S. involvement in exploring and extracting these resources, showing a strategic effort to use Ukraine’s natural assets for shared economic gain. The partnership is a crucial part of Ukraine’s larger plan for economic growth and stability, especially during the ongoing war.
Ukraine wants to stay on the US’ good side
President Zelenskyy has explained that this major government overhaul is driven by a need to restructure the executive branch and make significant changes. He has emphasized the importance of cutting unnecessary state spending and, by reducing regulations, shifting public resources toward boosting economic growth. This strategic shift, which includes changes in defense and other key areas important for national stability, shows a proactive approach to governing during wartime and rebuilding the economy.
The timing of this reshuffle, coming after a meeting between Zelenskyy and current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, suggests an urgent effort to improve government efficiency and realign priorities. If Ukraine’s parliament approves Svyrydenko, she will replace Denys Shmyhal, who has been Prime Minister since March 2020, making him Ukraine’s longest-serving prime minister so far.
News: Zelensky confirms our @FT reporting that he will nominate deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko to be Ukraine’s next prime minister, as part of the country’s biggest government shuffle since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. https://t.co/CvPLYFG5l5
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) July 14, 2025
Reports indicate that Shmyhal may be moved to the defense ministry, a role currently held by Rustem Umerov. Umerov, meanwhile, is expected to become Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States. This possible reassignment of Umerov follows a diplomatic incident in September involving the current ambassador, Oksana Markarova, who was caught in a dispute with the previous U.S. administration over a visit by Zelenskyy to a battleground state during a U.S. presidential election campaign. These changes suggest a strategic effort to place experienced officials in important diplomatic and security roles.
While the parliamentary vote on these changes is mostly seen as a formality, opposition members have raised serious concerns about what they call the president’s office’s heavy-handed approach to appointments. Critics argue that the push for government changes is coming not from parliament, which is supposed to appoint the government under Ukraine’s parliamentary-presidential system, but from the president’s inner circle.
With the U.S. currently on Ukraine’s side, now wouldn’t be a good time to anger the country. Opposition MP Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, who leads the European integration committee, said decisions are being made in a pre-determined way, with the parliamentary majority simply approving them without real debate. She sees this as a clear example of how the president and his closest allies treat state institutions like “stamp machines,” ignoring the balance of power as a mere formality.
