Ukraine's Zelenskyy Names New Prime Minister For First Time Since Russia's War Began

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named a caller premier curate for nan first clip since Russia invaded nan eastbound European federation much than 3 years ago. 

Ukrainian lawmakers announced connected societal media Thursday that parliament had voted by a comfortable mostly successful favour of Yuliia Svyrydenko becoming nan country's caller premier minister. 

Svyrydenko, 39, past period negotiated a major U.S.–Ukraine minerals and finance model pinch U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Zelenskyy said earlier this week that he projected that Svyrydenko, who antecedently served arsenic system curate and 1 of Ukraine's lawman premier ministers since November 2021, lead nan authorities arsenic he initiated "a translator of nan executive branch successful Ukraine." He shared a photograph of them together and said they discussed "concrete measures to boost Ukraine’s economical potential, grow support programs for Ukrainians, and standard up our home weapons production." 

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAYS REPUBLICANS READY TO MOVE ON RUSSIA SANCTIONS BILL WHEN TRUMP GIVES GREEN LIGHT

Yulia Svyrydenko applauds Denys Shmyhal aft nan Verkhovna Rada accepted his resignation arsenic Prime Minister of Ukraine connected July 16, 2025, successful Kyiv. (Andrii Nesterenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

It's nan astir important Ukrainian authorities restructuring since Russia invaded connected Feb. 24, 2022, and is viewed by guidance lawmakers arsenic a measurement for Zelenskyy to consolidate power. Ukraine has been nether martial rule since nan time aft nan invasion. 

"They will beryllium told by nan president's agency what they should really do," Yaroslav Zheleznyak, of nan Holos party, told Reuters, arguing nan caller authorities would beryllium indebted to Zelenskyy, who has important wartime powers nether nan constitution.

Svyrydenko will switch outgoing Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, nan longest-serving caput of authorities successful Ukraine’s history. He held nan position for much than 5 years aft being appointed connected March 4, 2020.

Shmyhal, who met pinch U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellog this week aft President Donald Trump approved nan waste of much Patriot systems, will return connected a caller domiciled arsenic Ukraine's defense minister, according to nan parliament's website. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, congratulated Svyrydenko and Shmyhal connected their caller roles. 

"We guidelines afloat down you arsenic you conflict for Ukraine’s endurance and activity for your country’s betterment and EU future," she wrote to Svyrydenko. For Shmyhal, she said, "Best wishes for your cardinal caller domiciled arsenic Defence Minister."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Yuliia Svyrydenko arsenic nan country's adjacent premier minister. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

NATO JETS SCRAMBLED AMID RUSSIA'S LARGEST DRONE ATTACK ON UKRAINE

The defense ministry commands 1 of nan largest budgets and carries captious value because of nan war. Shmyhal will switch Rustem Umerov, who, though he sought to push reforms, saw his tenure marked by soul turbulence and persistent dysfunction successful Ukraine’s defense procurement system. Despite his progressive domiciled connected nan world stage, critics said nan ministry remained plagued by mismanagement.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy posted a photograph from his gathering pinch Svyrydenko and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

"We are preparing nan first steps of nan renewed Government,"  Zelenskyy wrote, identifying nan cardinal priorities complete nan adjacent six months arsenic "increasing home weapons accumulation successful Ukraine, afloat contracting nan required volumes of each types of drones for Ukraine’s Defense Forces, carrying retired important deregulation and unlocking our country’s soul economical potential, and ensuring afloat implementation of societal support programs for our people."

"We defined nan results that tin beryllium achieved wrong nan first half-year of nan caller Government’s work," Zelenskyy added. 

Yulia Svyrydenko was named nan adjacent Prime Minister of Ukraine, pursuing a connection by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a mostly ballot by nan country's parliament (Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Svyrydenko has often represented Ukraine successful high-level talks pinch Western partners, focusing connected defense cooperation, economical betterment and reconstruction.

Lawmakers and chap officials picture her arsenic a diligent executive pinch a estimation for loyalty to nan statesmanlike office, according to nan Associated Press. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Of nan 450-seat parliament, 262 lawmakers voted successful favour of Svyrydenko becoming premier minister, Reuters reported, citing posts from a fistful of lawmakers, including Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who posted a photograph of nan physics voting table. The array showed 22 lawmakers voted against Svyrydenko and 26 abstained. The Ukrainian parliament does not broadcast sessions during wartime, according to Reuters. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.