Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reshuffled the government with Sviridenko at the helm, the British newspaper "Guardian" wrote in the headline, BTA reported in the press review.
Zelensky nominated Yulia Sviridenko as the new prime minister of Ukraine, and the long-time prime minister Denys Shmygal as the minister of defense. The Ukrainian president said that he wants the 39-year-old economist Sviridenko to head the government and "significantly renew its work", while the "vast experience" Shmygal, in his words, will be "appreciated for the post of Minister of Defense of Ukraine".
"It is in this area that the maximum resources of the country, the maximum tasks and great responsibility are currently concentrated," Zelensky added.
Sviridenko announced that she would strive for deregulation, cutting bureaucracy, protecting business and reducing secondary spending in order to achieve full concentration of state resources on defense and post-war reconstruction, the "Guardian" indicates.
"The state apparatus has no right to waste the resources and potential of our country," she said, adding: "Ukraine deserves to be among the strongest economies in Europe.".
The new head of the Ukrainian government, Yulia Sviridenko, takes over the leadership of a tightly-knit cabinet composed of Zelensky loyalists people, the French newspaper "Monde" headlines.
Sviridenko, a former economy minister, takes over a more cohesive government with reformed ministries, composed of officials close to Zelensky. These are the first major personnel changes in the Ukrainian government since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, notes "Monde".
A year ago, Zelensky announced his desire to turn a new page, saying he was "tired" of Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, who has been in office since 2020 - a record for political longevity in Ukraine. Immediately after her appointment, Yulia Sviridenko made weapons production one of her priorities.
For her part, the Ukrainian president personally announced that the Ministry of Defense, now merged with the Ministry of Strategic Industries and Industry (responsible for weapons production - note. "Monde"), would be headed by Shmygal, a former right-hand man of Rinat Akhmetov (one of the richest oligarchs in Ukraine).
Zelensky has chosen to reshuffle the government to give it new impetus, writes in a headline in another French newspaper - "Figaro".
In the past few days, the government district in Kiev has been seething and seething. However, it is not the echo of Russian bombing that is disturbing the sleep of its residents, but the political excitement surrounding the large-scale changes undertaken by the Ukrainian president, the largest since 2022. since, points out "Figaro".
For Volodymyr Zelensky, this change represents a rare opportunity to breathe new life into his cabinet at a time when martial law precludes the holding of any elections, and the president's term expires in May 2024. For several months, Zelensky had been quietly preparing to vacate the post of prime minister from Denys Shmygal, called "the eternal prime minister", a loyal and discreet technocrat who had held the post for more than five years. However, this plan was postponed after the election of Donald Trump to the White House, the French publication notes.
In Ukraine's semi-presidential political system, the president nominates the prime minister, who must then be approved by parliament. In turn, the Prime Minister proposes the composition of the government, notes "Figaro".
Zelensky made government changes amid pressure from Putin and Trump, writes the headline of the American publication "Politico".
Zelensky tried to give new life to his government at a time when Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues.
However, Ukrainian experts believe that the rearrangement of people loyal to Zelensky to influential positions in the cabinet will not lead to the necessary change, and the merger of ministries risks paralyzing the work of the government and overloading officials already exhausted by the war, "Politico" points out.
Yulia Sviridenko became the new Prime Minister of Ukraine, and Olga Stefanyshyna received the prestigious post of ambassador to the United States (after the discontent of Republicans in Washington helped to remove her predecessor Oksana Markarova - note. "Politiko"), while many of their colleagues were reassigned to new positions, the publication notes.
"Our government is taking a course towards self-sufficiency: military, economic and social. We must act quickly and decisively. Our priority steps in the first six months are to provide the army with high-quality equipment, increase our own weapons production and improve the technological capabilities of the army," Sviridenko said.
Zelensky described the reorganization as a "new configuration of the government", as four ministries were reduced or merged with others.
However, some observers in Kiev are skeptical of the government changes, as it will be months before some of these ministries begin to function fully.
"This government cannot be called new. It is better to call it a rearrangement of government posts, with an unclear result for all of us. Because it would be wrong to say that Shmygal did not cope as prime minister. Or that Yulia Sviridenko will be able to achieve some new impressive results," said Svetlana Matvienko, executive director of the think tank "Agency for Legislative Initiatives".
Zelensky's office was more optimistic.
"It's not about the arrival of new or not so new people, but about people who can achieve results. We need things to work, especially in the defense sector," said an official close to the president.
In recent months, Zelensky's government has faced a host of challenges - from maintaining Western support and foreign funding, which are crucial for the country's survival, to repairing deteriorating relations with US President Donald Trump after the infamous verbal clash on February 28 in the Oval Office. Ukraine also had to negotiate peace with Russia, urged by Washington to reform the country and reorganize its energy system and weapons production, while Russia attacked it with missiles and drones and advanced on the battlefield, Politico points out.
Among the priorities of the new government are increasing domestic weapons production, fully negotiating the number of Western-supplied drones needed for Ukraine's defense forces, deregulating and unleashing the country's economic potential, as well as ensuring the full implementation of social assistance programs.
Zelensky believes that his new government configuration can cope with these tasks, the American publication notes.
The new Prime Minister Sviridenko was one of the main drivers of the rare earth minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States on April 30, working out the final agreement, reaching a compromise given the harsh conditions that Washington wanted to impose on Kiev. Andy Hunter, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kiev, describes her as “a person the United States can work with“.
Her former economy ministry has been merged with the ministries of environment and agriculture and will be taken over by her former deputy, Oleksiy Sobolev.
Taras Kachka, Ukraine's trade representative and deputy economy minister, will become the new deputy prime minister for EU integration. Ukraine's energy minister, Herman Galushchenko, accused of monopolizing control of the state-owned energy sector, will become the new justice minister, a key figure in Ukraine's EU integration process. Galushchenko’s former deputy and former environment minister, Svitlana Grinchuk, will take over the energy ministry.
Denis Ulyutin, a former deputy finance minister, will now head another merged ministry, the ministry of social policy, family and unity. The Ministry of National Unity, Zelensky’s pet project that was intended to help Ukrainians return home, will be liquidated after just six months in office, Politico notes.
Former defense minister Rustem Umerov, described by Zelensky as an extremely effective manager and negotiator but criticized by civil society for inaction and alleged sabotage of key supplies to the army, will most likely be moved to the National Security Council, Ukrainian media say. His new role will be announced today.
Mikhailo Fedorov retains his post as Minister of Digital Transformation and becomes First Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Sviridenko. Oleksiy Kuleba, another cadre of the President's Office, will remain Minister of Infrastructure and Territorial Development.
Many of the ministers are keeping their posts, Politico reports. Matvey Binyin will remain the Minister of Youth and Sports, Natalia Kalmykova will continue to lead the Ministry of Veterans, Igor Klimenko will continue to lead the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Oksen Lisovyi will remain the Minister of Education, Viktor Lyashko - Minister of Health, Serhiy Marchenko will continue to lead the Ministry of Finance, and another ally of the president, Andriy Sibiga, will remain the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"In this race for loyalty, we are completely losing one important aspect - respect for professionals, real ideas and ambitions. It is high time for the pro-government team to look for either courageous professional opponents, even enemies, or at least give a chance to the best from its own team. They didn't do it," said analyst Matvienko.
"In any case, I wish them success, because we are all in the same boat," she summed up.