Ukrainian Parliament Approves Prime Minister Svyrydenko’s Resignation Amid Cabinet Reshuffle

The Ukrainian parliament voted on Monday to accept Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s resignation, following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s announcement over the weekend of a planned cabinet overhaul and his request for her to step down.

“Every day this year has demanded difficult decisions and decisive action. I am deeply grateful for the trust and support I received. You also know that I have always believed results matter most,” Svyrydenko stated in her farewell address to lawmakers.

Zelenskyy has not yet named a successor, though the Kyiv Independent reported, citing unnamed sources, that Serhii Koretskyi, chief executive of Ukraine’s largest state-owned energy company Naftogaz, is a leading candidate for the post.

Zelenskyy Calls for Government Reset

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said he and Svyrydenko had agreed that “a reshuffle of the Cabinet is necessary.” He added that Svyrydenko had been offered the opportunity to lead “a new and important area of relations with a key partner.” Ukrainian media have speculated she may be appointed ambassador to the United States, though no official confirmation has been made.

Svyrydenko, who previously served as economy minister, became prime minister in July 2025 at age 39 after spearheading negotiations on a critical minerals agreement between Ukraine and the United States — a deal viewed as strategically linking American interests to Ukraine’s security.

On Tuesday, following the resignation vote, Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European integration, emphasized that the government changes would not derail the country’s EU accession trajectory.

“This is an unconditional priority for the Ukrainian government so that the negotiations will go, and as well as a reform process,” Kachka said in Brussels, ahead of the formal opening of a second chapter of accession talks covering external relations.

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