The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has appointed a new Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, and announced the composition of the new Cabinet. President Volodymyr Zelensky personally presented the government’s leadership in parliament. Key appointments include Mykhailo Fedorov as First Deputy Prime Minister and a reshuffle of several ministries.
Fedorov retains his position as Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, while Denys Shmyhal is proposed as the new Defense Minister. Oleksiy Sobolev will lead the merged Ministry of Economy, Ecology, and Agrarian Policy. Taras Kachka will become Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration. Svitlana Hrynchuk will head the Ministry of Energy, and Herman Halushchenko will move to Justice Minister. Key figures such as Oleksii Kuleba, Andrii Sebiha, Ihor Klymenko, and others remain in their posts.
President Zelensky stated that no changes in military leadership will occur until victory. Experts do not yet see fundamental shifts in government approaches; many ministers retain their portfolios or move to new departments.
Meanwhile, a budget crisis is deepening in Russia. Valentina Matvienko has called for “strict budgetary austerity.” Reductions in spending and tapping into the National Welfare Fund point to serious financial strain. Defense expenditures remain high, and some infrastructure projects may be postponed.
Internationally, debate continues about the impact of US leadership changes on the Ukraine conflict. Analysts say Donald Trump cannot end the war without more pressure on Russia, while the Ukrainian President’s Office believes peace could be achieved as early as 2025. The US highlights the need to support Ukraine further, invest in the defense industry and military technology. American and European partners consider closer cooperation to ensure the region’s long-term security.
In summary, political and economic changes in Ukraine and Russia, along with the course of international support, significantly affect the prospects for ending the war.
