Latest news with #cabinetreshuffle
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Yulia Svyrydenko: Ukraine's new prime minister who masterminded key Trump deal
President Volodymyr Zelensky has named Yulia Svyrydenko as Ukraine 's new prime minister in the latest reshuffle of his cabinet. Ms Svyrydenko, 39, has been serving as first deputy prime minister and economic development and trade minister since November 2021. She had been appointed to lead the revival of Ukraine's struggling economy only months before Russia invaded in February 2022 and made her task more difficult. Mr Zelensky met with Ms Svyrydenko on Monday and discussed the 'implementation of agreements with European and American partners regarding support for Ukraine reached during the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference'. If her nomination is approved by parliament, which appears likely, Ms Svyrydenko will replace Denys Shmyhal, who is poised to take over as the war-torn country's defence minister. Mr Zelensky is reshuffling his cabinet at a time when Ukraine is seeking to revive its cash-strapped economy and boost its arms industry. Ms Svyrydenko came to global attention earlier this year when she brokered a minerals deal with the US, fulfilling a crucial demand that the Donald Trump administration had set to help Kyiv negotiate with Russia. The deal helped repair damaged ties between Mr Zelensky and the Trump administration. She underlined that Kyiv needed the US as a strategic partner in the war and worked with the Trump administration to get the deal done. She led a Ukrainian delegation to Washington where she signed the deal, called the United States-Ukraine Reinvestment Fund, on 30 April with treasury secretary Scott Bessent. The deal gives the US preferential access to Ukraine's critical minerals and other natural resources. It also establishes a reconstruction investment fund to which Ukraine is expected to contribute 50 per cent of all future profits from natural resources. Initial versions of the deal presented by Mr Trump 's negotiators required Ukraine to pay back the aid the US had given it over the course of the war. The eventual deal, according to Mr Shmyhal, made no such demand. 'Another milestone on the path to launching the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund: Ukraine has completed all necessary procedures on schedule," Ms Svyrydenko said after the deal was signed. The deal helped thaw relations between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky which had collapsed after they engaged in a shouting match at the White House where US vice president JD Vance also joined in. The agreement, which sought to balance Washington's demands with Kyiv's control over its natural resources, especially rare earths, and infrastructure, was hailed as a win for Ukraine. 'This agreement is a win-win and it is written in friendly language. It is about investments, investments and investments," Taras Kachka, Ukraine's deputy minister for economic development, trade and agriculture, said at the time. Ms Svyrydenko also led the 4th Ukraine Recovery Conference that concluded in Rome last week, securing agreements on economic and development projects worth at least €11bn. After meeting with Mr Zelensky on Monday, Ms Svyrydenko said she would pursue deregulation, cut back bureaucracy, protect businesses and reduce non-critical expenditure to achieve the "full concentration of state resources" for defence and post-war recovery. 'The state apparatus has no right to waste the resources and potential of our country," she said. "Ukraine deserves to be among the strongest economies in Europe."
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Volodymyr Zelensky announces Ukraine's next PM
President Volodymyr Zelensky has nominated Yulia Svyrydenko as Ukraine 's new prime minister, pending parliamentary approval, as part of a cabinet reshuffle. Ms Svyrydenko, currently first deputy prime minister and economic development minister, is set to replace Denys Shmyhal, who is poised to become the defence minister. The reshuffle comes as Ukraine aims to revive its cash-strapped economy and boost its arms industry. Earlier this year, Ms Svyrydenko brokered a significant minerals deal with the US, fulfilling a crucial demand from the Trump administration and helping to repair diplomatic ties. The deal, signed on 30 April, grants the US preferential access to Ukraine's critical minerals and establishes a reconstruction investment fund.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Yulia Svyrydenko: Zelensky names architect of Trump minerals deal as new Ukraine PM
President Volodymyr Zelensky has named Yulia Svyrydenko as Ukraine's new prime minister in the latest reshuffle of his cabinet. Ms Svyrydenko, 39, has been serving as first deputy prime minister and economic development and trade minister since November 2021. She had been appointed to lead the revival of Ukraine's struggling economy only months before Russia invaded in February 2022 and made her task more difficult. Mr Zelensky met with Ms Svyrydenko on Monday and discussed the 'implementation of agreements with European and American partners regarding support for Ukraine reached during the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference'. If her nomination is approved by parliament, which appears likely, Ms Svyrydenko will replace Denys Shmyhal, who is poised to take over as the war-torn country's defence minister. Mr Zelensky is reshuffling his cabinet at a time when Ukraine is seeking to revive its cash-strapped economy and boost its arms industry. I held a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. A report was delivered on the implementation of agreements with European and American partners regarding support for Ukraine reached during the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference. We must swiftly implement… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 14, 2025 Ms Svyrydenko came to global attention earlier this year when she brokered a minerals deal with the US, fulfilling a crucial demand that the Donald Trump administration had set to help Kyiv negotiate with Russia. The deal helped repair damaged ties between Mr Zelensky and the Trump administration. She underlined that Kyiv needed the US as a strategic partner in the war and worked with the Trump administration to get the deal done. The US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund is not only a key step toward global strategic resources security, but an absolutely historic step for Ukraine itself.I spoke with the @KyivIndependent about why this moment matters — and what comes next. — Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) July 8, 2025 She led a Ukrainian delegation to Washington where she signed the deal, called the United States-Ukraine Reinvestment Fund, on 30 April with treasury secretary Scott Bessent. The deal gives the US preferential access to Ukraine's critical minerals and other natural resources. It also establishes a reconstruction investment fund to which Ukraine is expected to contribute 50 per cent of all future profits from natural resources. Initial versions of the deal presented by Mr Trump's negotiators required Ukraine to pay back the aid the US had given it over the course of the war. The eventual deal, according to Mr Shmyhal, made no such demand. 'Another milestone on the path to launching the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund: Ukraine has completed all necessary procedures on schedule," Ms Svyrydenko said after the deal was signed. The deal helped thaw relations between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky which had collapsed after they engaged in a shouting match at the White House where US vice president JD Vance also joined in. The agreement, which sought to balance Washington's demands with Kyiv's control over its natural resources, especially rare earths, and infrastructure, was hailed as a win for Ukraine. 'This agreement is a win-win and it is written in friendly language. It is about investments, investments and investments," Taras Kachka, Ukraine's deputy minister for economic development, trade and agriculture, said at the time. After the 4th Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome last week saw Kyiv strike agreements worth €11bn for economic and infrastructure development, Ms Svyrydenko said she would pursue deregulation, cut bureaucracy, protect businesses, and reduce non-critical expenditure to achieve the "full concentration of state resources" for defence and post-war recovery. "The state apparatus has no right to waste the resources and potential of our country," she wrote on social media. "Ukraine deserves to be among the strongest economies in Europe.'
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Yulia Svyrydenko: Zelensky names architect of Trump minerals deal as new Ukraine PM
President Volodymyr Zelensky has named Yulia Svyrydenko as Ukraine 's new prime minister in the latest reshuffle of his cabinet. Ms Svyrydenko, 39, has been serving as first deputy prime minister and economic development and trade minister since November 2021. She had been appointed to lead the revival of Ukraine's struggling economy only months before Russia invaded in February 2022 and made her task more difficult. Mr Zelensky met with Ms Svyrydenko on Monday and discussed the 'implementation of agreements with European and American partners regarding support for Ukraine reached during the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference'. If her nomination is approved by parliament, which appears likely, Ms Svyrydenko will replace Denys Shmyhal, who is poised to take over as the war-torn country's defence minister. Mr Zelensky is reshuffling his cabinet at a time when Ukraine is seeking to revive its cash-strapped economy and boost its arms industry. Ms Svyrydenko came to global attention earlier this year when she brokered a minerals deal with the US, fulfilling a crucial demand that the Donald Trump administration had set to help Kyiv negotiate with Russia. The deal helped repair damaged ties between Mr Zelensky and the Trump administration. She underlined that Kyiv needed the US as a strategic partner in the war and worked with the Trump administration to get the deal done. She led a Ukrainian delegation to Washington where she signed the deal, called the United States-Ukraine Reinvestment Fund, on 30 April with treasury secretary Scott Bessent. The deal gives the US preferential access to Ukraine's critical minerals and other natural resources. It also establishes a reconstruction investment fund to which Ukraine is expected to contribute 50 per cent of all future profits from natural resources. Initial versions of the deal presented by Mr Trump 's negotiators required Ukraine to pay back the aid the US had given it over the course of the war. The eventual deal, according to Mr Shmyhal, made no such demand. 'Another milestone on the path to launching the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund: Ukraine has completed all necessary procedures on schedule," Ms Svyrydenko said after the deal was signed. The deal helped thaw relations between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky which had collapsed after they engaged in a shouting match at the White House where US vice president JD Vance also joined in. The agreement, which sought to balance Washington's demands with Kyiv's control over its natural resources, especially rare earths, and infrastructure, was hailed as a win for Ukraine. 'This agreement is a win-win and it is written in friendly language. It is about investments, investments and investments," Taras Kachka, Ukraine's deputy minister for economic development, trade and agriculture, said at the time. After the 4th Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome last week saw Kyiv strike agreements worth €11bn for economic and infrastructure development, Ms Svyrydenko said she would pursue deregulation, cut bureaucracy, protect businesses, and reduce non-critical expenditure to achieve the "full concentration of state resources" for defence and post-war recovery. "The state apparatus has no right to waste the resources and potential of our country," she wrote on social media. "Ukraine deserves to be among the strongest economies in Europe.'
Russia Today
14-07-2025
- 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.
