Latest news with #YuliaSviridenko
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Ukrainian parliament approves new PM
Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has confirmed Yulia Sviridenko as the country's new prime minister, replacing Denis Shmigal. Sviridenko has served as Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and economy minister since November of 2021. Sviridenko has become the second woman in Ukraine's history to head the government. Prior to the escalation in the Ukraine conflict in 2022, she participated in the so-called Trilateral Contact Group, which was formed by Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE to facilitate a diplomatic solution in Donbass. She also headed the country's working group on sanctions policy. Her appointment follows Ukraine's biggest government reshuffle in recent years. Shmigal, who had been Ukraine's prime minister since early 2020, officially submitted his resignation on Wednesday, a day after Vladimir Zelensky announced his replacement and named him as the country's next defense chief. The Rada confirmed Shmigal on Thursday. He will now take charge of the ministry, which has been marred by multiple corruption scandals in recent years. Outgoing minister Rustem Umerov, who led Ukraine's delegation in negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, is reportedly set to become Ukraine's new ambassador to the view Sviridenko as loyal to Andrey Yermak, the head of Zelensky's office, with some seeing her nomination as a bid to consolidate power. Sviridenko quickly rose through government ranks after graduating with honors from the National University of Trade and Economics, following a brief stint in the private sector. The 39-year-old bureaucrat gained prominence in recent months for brokering a deal that granted the US preferential access to Ukrainian mineral resources. The deal became the focal point of a high-profile public clash between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in February of 2025. Experts say Sviridenko will focus exclusively on economic development and is unlikely to have a broader influence on government policy.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine gets new defense minister
The Ukrainian parliament has appointed former Prime Minister Denis Shmigal as the country's new defense minister. Shmigal had occupied his previous position since early 2020, becoming the country's longest-serving prime minister following the indefinite postponement of parliamentary and presidential elections due to martial law. Shmigal has been succeeded by his deputy, Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko, who was officially appointed to her new role earlier on Thursday. The outgoing defense chief, Rustem Umerov, who also led Ukraine's delegation in negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, is reportedly expected to become Kiev's new ambassador to the US. Announcing the reshuffle earlier this week, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said Shmigal's experience in managing the country's limited resources would be useful in the new role. 'Denis Shmigal's extensive experience will definitely be valuable in the position of Ukraine's defense minister – it is precisely in this area that the country's resources are currently concentrated, the number of tasks is at its peak, and the responsibility is immense,' he said. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has been rocked by multiple corruption scandals amid the conflict with Russia. Former defense chief Aleksey Reznikov stepped down from the post in 2023 amid a scandal involving overpriced food contracts for the military, joining a NATO-affiliated NGO in Slovakia shortly after. Umerov, who four months into the role said an internal audit had uncovered around $262 million in losses related to theft, reportedly found himself under investigation over alleged abuse of power related to the procurement of defense equipment at grossly inflated prices.
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukrainian PM resigns
Prime Minister Denis Shmigal has officially submitted his resignation to the Ukrainian parliament, a day after Vladimir Zelensky announced his replacement and named him the country's next defense chief. Shmigal has held the post since early 2020, serving an extended term after parliamentary and presidential elections were indefinitely postponed due to martial law. He posted a copy of his resignation letter on Telegram on Tuesday, thanking his team for their 'tireless work' – and Zelensky personally for his 'trust' over the years. 'Denis Shmigal's extensive experience will definitely be valuable in the position of Ukraine's defense minister,' Zelensky said on Monday, selecting him to replace Rustem Umerov as the third defense chief since the escalation of the conflict with Moscow. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has faced multiple corruption scandals in recent years, with former defense chief Aleksey Reznikov stepping down in 2023 to join a NATO-affiliated NGO in Slovakia. Outgoing minister Umerov, who also led Ukraine's delegation in negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, will reportedly become Ukraine's new ambassador to the US. Zelensky has nominated Shmigal's deputy and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko as the next prime minister. Sviridenko, 39, gained prominence in recent months for brokering a deal that granted the US preferential access to Ukrainian mineral resources. Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, is expected to approve the appointments in the coming days. Former Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov, who served under ousted President Viktor Yanukovich, claimed that Zelensky bypassed constitutional procedures by personally naming the new prime minister – a role traditionally proposed by the parliamentary majority. Zelensky's own presidential term expired last year, but he has repeatedly cited the state of emergency he imposed as grounds for remaining in office beyond the constitutional deadline. On Tuesday, Ukrainian lawmakers once again extended martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days, until November 5, with just one dissenting vote. Ukrainian opposition figures, including former President Pyotr Poroshenko, as well as civil society groups, international watchdogs, and Western media, have expressed concern that Zelensky's wartime powers could lead to a lasting erosion of democratic freedoms. Earlier this month, The Economist reported that the government has become entangled in 'palace politics' and internal strife.
Russia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine's embattled unity minister announces creation of aid centers abroad
On Monday, Ukraine's Cabinet backed an initiative to create a network of so-called 'unity centers' to support Ukrainians abroad, Ukrainian Deputy PM and National Unity Minister Aleksey Chernyshov has announced. The announcement comes amid reports that the ministry will soon be dismantled amid an ongoing cabinet reshuffle. The 'unity centers' are expected to become 'real points of support for our people, helping them adapt, study, work, facilitate return, and most importantly, maintain close ties with Ukraine,' the minister tasked with repatriating Ukrainians said in a Facebook post. Last month, Chernyshov was accused of fleeing the country after he found himself embroiled in a major corruption scandal tied to a housing project that he had approved while serving as urban development minister. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky had previously noted that Chernyshov's prolonged stay abroad was related to a 'working trip.' The minister himself claimed that he'd already returned to the country, dismissing allegations that he had fled. Earlier in the day, this line was backed by Ukrainian MP Aleksey Goncharenko, who suggested that the minister had personally been working on establishing the unity centers. Chernyshov's announcement comes as Kiev launched a major government reshuffle. On Monday, Zelensky officially tapped Ukraine's First Vice PM and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko to lead the government. According to Ukrainian media reports, incumbent PM Denis Smygal will become the defense minister, succeeding Rustem Umerov. The latter official is expected to leave the government and become Ukraine's envoy in the US. The National Unity ministry, formed in late 2024, is expected to be dissolved altogether amid the reshuffle. The Chernyshov affair has been widely seen as part of an ongoing power struggle in Ukraine, namely an effort of top Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak to tighten his grip on the country. Ukraine's leadership has increasingly become mired in palace politics and infighting, with the struggle threatening to fracture the country from within, a recent report by The Economist indicated.
Russia Today
02-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
US-Ukraine resources deal: What we know so far
The US and Ukraine have signed a natural resources deal that gives Washington access to the country's vast mineral deposits in exchange for help in Ukraine's economic recovery. Hardball diplomacy over the deal went on for months and became a major point of contention in relations between Washington and Kiev. Here's what we know about the outlines of the deal. The agreement establishes a joint US-Ukraine reconstruction investment fund to attract investment in the Ukrainian economy, particularly with regard to resource exploration projects. According to Ukrainian Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka, the US will be given preferential access to investments in the extraction of rare-earth minerals. However, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko said the fund would operate as an 'equal partnership,' with neither side having a dominant vote. Ukraine will retain 'full control over the resources' – including the subsoil – and will continue to determine the conditions and locations of extraction. The deal also does not transfer any state-owned companies into private hands. Ukraine will contribute 50% of new rents for new licenses for new extraction to the fund, with the money inside to be invested exclusively in Ukraine. For the first ten years, profits will not be distributed, but will be fully reinvested in the Ukrainian economy, according to the Ministry of Economy. Neither contributions nor profits are taxable. Conspicuously absent from the deal, however, is any mention of the US providing Ukraine with security guarantees, although this was 'one of its initial goals,' as described by Reuters. According to the New York Times, the idea of security guarantees was rejected by the US 'early in the process.' Nevertheless, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce insisted that the deal will strengthen the country's security: 'When America is your friend and your partner, your nation is going to be better off. And there is a security component just in our presence.' The resource deal 'focuses on future, not past, US military assistance,' the Ukrainian Economy Ministry has said, adding that revenues from already active projects are not included in the joint investment fund. According to Sviridenko, the agreement 'includes no provisions regarding any Ukrainian debt obligations to the United States.' The US previously portrayed the deal as a way for Ukraine to pay back past military assistance, which the administration of US President Donald Trump estimated at $350 billion. Ukraine has insisted that the past aid was provided unconditionally, while estimating it at $90 billion. Following the signing of the deal, Trump suggested that the US could 'in theory' get much more than $350 billion out of the deal. US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham described the deal as 'tremendously beneficial to the American economy,' adding that it will improve ties between Washington and Kiev. The New York Times suggested that the 'deal will have little significance' if Russia and Ukraine fail to reach a sustainable ceasefire. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the US has essentially forced Ukraine to pay for American aid with minerals. Negotiations over the agreement dragged on for months, though the sides had planned to sign it in late February during Vladimir Zelensky's visit to the White House. However, Zelensky's televised meeting with Trump resulted in a heated exchange, with the US president accusing the Ukrainian leader of ingratitude and 'gambling with World War III.' Since then, the US has on several occasions criticized Ukraine for making slow progress on the deal, with Trump at one point demanding that Kiev sign it 'immediately.'
