Yulia Sviridenko will step down as prime minister amid a government reshuffle aimed at prioritizing foreign policy and security goals.
Published July 12, 2026
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced personnel changes in the government, and also proposed replacing Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko and the heads of some law enforcement agencies.
“Ukraine is changing its political strategy. Each priority foreign policy direction will be supervised by a specific person with solid experience who is able to implement agreements reached at the level of leaders and meet the expectations of the Ukrainian people,” Zelensky said on Sunday in a long post on social networks.
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“I discussed the details with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko. We agreed that to implement these changes it is necessary to update the Cabinet of Ministers.”
Sviridenko became prime minister a year ago, replacing Denis Shmygal. She previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, positions that brought her into close contact with the administration of US President Donald Trump. She is widely credited with her role in negotiating a landmark minerals deal between Washington and Kiev last year, which helped defrost initially frosty relations between Trump and Zelensky.
“I am proud to have the honor of leading the government during one of the most difficult periods in the modern history of Ukraine. I thank every man and woman who defends Ukrainian soil. Our soldiers are our strength and the basis of our independence,” the 39-year-old man wrote on X.
Zelensky also said that there will be changes in the leadership of law enforcement agencies.
He said the new political strategy would focus on key foreign policy priorities, including agreements to manufacture Patriot air defense systems under license, advancing Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership and deepening ties with the Persian Gulf region, which he called one of the world’s “most promising” regions for security and economic cooperation.
Zelensky thanked Sviridenko for the offer to lead “a new significant direction in relations with a key partner.”