President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on 12 July that a new Ukrainian government will be formed within weeks, replacing the prime minister and several senior ministers including those responsible for defence and energy. He said the reshuffle is intended to bring true experts into all posts and criticised the current team for not delivering the speed of reform and coordination needed for the war effort and reconstruction.

Analysts expressed scepticism about the claim that expertise has been lacking in Kyiv’s leadership. Political scientist Konstantin Skorkin argued that the upcoming changes aim to keep the government dynamic and avoid stagnation, adding that some members of Zelensky’s own team learned of the reshuffle through Telegram.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who has served since July 2023, was offered the post of Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. She posted on Facebook that she remains ready to serve Ukraine and confirmed she would leave the cabinet. Her tenure has been described as technocratic and closely aligned with Zelensky’s agenda, though some members of parliament accused her of insufficient dialogue with the legislature and of promising IMF measures that were politically impossible. No public speculation had previously suggested she would be moved after less than a year in office. The ambassadorship is characterised as primarily logistical, facilitating high‑level meetings and information flow, and her reassignment was presented as a strategic reallocation rather than a demotion.

Among the names frequently discussed as candidates to lead the new government is Sergii Koretskyi, director of the state oil and gas company Naftogaz and regarded as an expert on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian journalists reported that Zelensky met privately with Koretskyi in the days before the announcement. The president also summoned energy minister Denys Shmyhal, a former prime minister, prompting speculation about his possible new role. Other possible candidates mentioned include Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov and former prime minister Denys Shmyhal. No replacement for the current defence minister had been named at the time of the report; the previous defence ministry reshuffle in September 2022 resulted in the departure of Oleksii Reznikov and was linked to a desire for a more aggressive procurement strategy.

Broader reforms and diplomatic focus

Zelensky signalled a broad reorganisation of Ukraine’s diplomatic corps, planning new envoys to key European capitals, especially Poland and Hungary. The move follows recent tensions with Poland over the legacy of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and a protest in which Zelensky returned a Polish state decoration, as well as repeated funding blocks by Hungary.

The president highlighted the approaching winter and Russia’s targeting of Ukraine’s power grid as reasons for appointing an energy specialist. Analysts noted that a stronger energy sector could reduce the need for emergency EU electricity imports and help stabilise regional electricity prices.

Zelensky warned that agreements on arms supplies must be fulfilled faster and more decisively, mentioned a pending US licence for domestic production of Patriot air‑defence missiles and said several support packages announced by the EU and the United States had only been partially implemented. He called for a new level of cooperation to turn verbal commitments into concrete deliveries.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine issued a statement urging the president to appoint officials who would protect workers’ rights, wages and social safety nets. Some members of parliament warned that rapid cabinet turnover could undermine policy continuity, especially for long‑term reconstruction contracts.

The president is expected to present a list of cabinet nominees to the Verkhovna Rada within two weeks. The parliament, dominated by the Servant of the People party, could approve the list and swear in the new government before the end of July. Observers noted that the reshuffle could affect Ukraine’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund, which is pressing for structural reforms, and suggested that a new finance minister with a reputation for fiscal discipline could facilitate further IMF loans. New ambassadors are also expected to be posted to Brussels, Berlin and Paris to accelerate EU reconstruction funding.