Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced his resignation on Tuesday, signalling a reshuffle of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government as the country continues to face intense pressure from Russia's invasion.
“I am tendering my resignation from the post of the Prime Minister of Ukraine,” Shmyhal wrote in a letter posted to his Telegram page, quoted AP.
According to AP, President Zelenskyy announced on Monday that he has nominated 39-year-old Yuliia Svyrydenko, the current first deputy prime minister and economy minister, to succeed Shmyhal. Svyrydenko has been a central figure in negotiating a key minerals agreement with the United States and has frequently represented Ukraine in high-level discussions with Western partners on defence and economic recovery.
The proposed changes, which require parliamentary approval, come at a critical time for Ukraine, with escalating Russian assaults. The reshuffle is seen as an effort to strengthen Ukraine's government and its international partnerships.
AP reported that, in a move to bolster ties with Washington, Zelenskyy has also indicated his intention to replace the current U.S. Ambassador, Oksana Markarova. Observers suggest that the current defence chief, Rustem Umerov, could be appointed as the new envoy to Washington. This would open up the defence minister position, which Zelenskyy has suggested Shmyhal would be well-suited for.
Umerov, 43, was appointed defence minister in September 2023, following a series of corruption scandals in the ministry. While he has initiated reforms, the ministry still faces criticism for mismanagement.
Kyiv is eager to secure long-term support from the U.S., especially amid concerns about potential shifts in U.S. policy. “To us it is very important, in the context of what is happening now, to strengthen ties with the U.S.,” Zelenskyy said last week, reported AP
The timing of the parliamentary vote on the proposed government changes remains uncertain as the nation grapples with the ongoing war.
