Finally, Ukraine’s parliament appointed its first new PM, Yulia Svyrydenko, in five years. Other key leaders in the government have also reshuffled since Russia invaded three years ago.
Yulia Svyrydenko previously served as the first deputy prime minister and minister of economic development and trade. These roles brought her into close contact with the administration of US President Donald Trump. She was credited for negotiating a major mineral deal between Kyiv and Washington earlier this year, which helped in making strong relations between President Trump and Zelenskyi. Yulia has also established herself as a systematic doer, highly skilled in making global relations, which is required right now.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tasked Yulia to work on boosting the domestic weapons production and reviving Ukraine’s loan-dependent economy.
During his parliament speech, Zelenskiy said he hopes his new government will boost the domestic weapons shares on Ukraine’s battlefield from 40% to 50% in the next six months. He further highlighted the deregulation and increasing economic cooperation with allies as other major goals of this major government reshuffle.
Yulia Svyrydenko: A Quick Overview
Born on 25th December 1985 in Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko is an experienced technician and independent politician. She became the 19th Prime Minister of Ukraine. Her appointment came amid a wartime cabinet reshuffle done by Zelenskyy to fuel fresh energy into the military-industrial and economic efforts in Ukraine.
Yulia graduated in 2008 with a degree in antimonopoly management from the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics. In 2011, she became the Permanent Representative of Chernihiv in Wuxi, China, and she was the only official representative of Ukraine, showing her early involvement in international engagement.
In 2015, Yulia’s administrative journey began at the Department of Economic Development for the Chernihiv Oblast. With time, she gained a solid reputation that led to her appointment as Acting Governor of Chernihiv Oblast in 2018.
On December 22, 2020, Yulia was named Deputy Head of the Office of the President, and in 2021, she was appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
