Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushes for new government in Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushes for new government in Ukraine July 15, 2026On Tuesday, Ukraine's parliament approved Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko's resignation with a clear majority, dismissing the country's entire government. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced on social media on Sunday that he had offered Svyrydenko a new position. Media report that she could become Ukraine's next ambassador to the United States. "I am grateful to Yulia for her clear, steady and effective work as prime minister, and for all her years of successful work as part of Team Ukraine," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. "I have offered her the opportunity to take on a new significant role in relations with an important partner. I expect that, together with members of parliament, we will make the necessary changes to the Ukrainian government." Zelenskyy posted photos of meetings with Sergii Koretskyi, head of the state-owned energy company Naftogaz, first Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov. Ukraine's Cabinet reshuffle There has been much speculation and debate about why Zelenskyy might be reshuffling the government, which has been in office for less than a year. Ihor Reiterovych, a political scientist with the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, told DW that a reshuffle had originally been planned for the coming fall or spring. However, Reiterovych said, several recent incidents had prompted a more immediate intervention. Mainly, there is the issue of Ukraine's current ambassador to the United States: Olga Stefanishyna. She is being investigated by Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities regarding activities prior to her appointment to work in Washington, DC. There are rumors that she is considering resigning. "It is possible that the Americans signaled that a scandal involving the ambassador would be too much for them and that something needed to be done," Reiterovych said. "That's why Zelenskyy had to react. Svyrydenko is a good candidate; she cooperated well on the raw materials agreement with the Americans and established contacts there. The Americans are willing to work with people with whom they've already worked together." Reiterovych said recent scandals involving the armed forces could damage Zelenskyy's reputation as Ukraine's commander-in-chief. Investigative reporting has uncovered instances of torture, the cruel treatment of recruits and the cover-up of deaths occurring outside of combat operations. At the same time, inspections are underway regarding irregularities in conscription and the draft, particularly after many mobilized men were found to be medically unfit for service. Rotating the personnel could help Zelenskyy draw attention from the military's many issues, Reiterovych said. He said communications problems with the Cabinet, including Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, could also be a factor in Zelenskyy's push for change. Reshuffling the entire government would allow him to remove individuals whose dismissal might otherwise be difficult for image-related reasons. Zelenskyy's power play Svyrydenko comes from the inner circle of Andriy Yermak, the former head of the office of the president, who required obedience within the government, said Vadym Denysenko, of the analytical unit at the Ukrainian news portal DSNews. However, in a system without Yermak, Svyrydenko became redundant as an executor of policy, even though she remained loyal to Zelenskyy following Yermak's departure. The political scientist Oleksiy Haran told DW that he believes the government reshuffle is related to Yermak's resignation. Haran said the office of the president sought to strengthen its control over the executive branch through the reshuffle. "Zelenskyy is once again showing who is in charge, contrary to the constitution, as forming the government is the exclusive prerogative of parliament and must, at least formally, take place through parliament," Haran said. He added that Zelenskyy clearly seeks to demonstrate that he is pulling the strings and has everything firmly under control. Haran said another possible reason for the sudden reshuffle could be the need to resolve Ukraine's energy issues. That is why Koretskyi and Shmyhal, both of whom are specialists in the energy field, are among the candidates for prime minister. Observers believe that Koretskyi is one of the favorites for the post. "I don't think that is the main reason," Haran said, "but it is an important factor." Zelenskyy prizes loyalty Volodymyr Fesenko, of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research, told DW that Zelenskyy often bundles personnel decisions into a larger government package. "That was the case last year, and it looks like it will be the same this year," Fesenko said. "It is not just about changes in the government; personnel decisions regarding law enforcement agencies are also planned." Denysenko said the reshuffle would represent a comprehensive overhaul of Zelenskyy's leadership team. Reiterovych said loyalty was the primary factor for Zelenskyy in selecting a new prime minister. Despite Ukraine's parliamentary system, the observers with whom DW spoke largely agree that the legislature will likely ultimately vote on a candidate chosen by the president. "The aim is to put parliament in its place once again," Reiterovych said. "It is simply expected to vote for whatever is put before it." However, as all candidates for government posts must be confirmed by the legislature, Ukraine's parliament could still assert its independence. Should that happen, the current week of parliamentary sessions could prove quite eventful. This article was originally written in Ukrainian.