Ukraine PM's resignation stuns lawmakers as potential successors emerge

Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed on July 12 that she would step down as Ukraine’s Prime Minister following President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement of a government reshuffle.

Her resignation comes as a surprise to some lawmakers in Zelensky's Servant of the People party, fueling speculation about the real motive behind the decision.

"It's a strange situation," one lawmaker told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.

"Cabinet resignations are generally a last resort. They're usually something you would expect in the fall, when the political season begins, and people expect some political changes, since there are no elections," they continued.

"Maybe there are some extraordinary reasons for the reshuffle... It looks like a preemptive move."

The lawmaker added they see no obvious reason for Svyrydenko's removal.

Svyrydenko, who replaced former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in July 2025, will now take on a new role leading cooperation with Ukraine's key partners, Zelensky announced on social media.

"Ukraine is changing its political strategy. Each priority foreign policy direction will be overseen by a specific individual with substantial experience who is capable of delivering on the agreements reached at the leaders' level and fulfilling the expectations of the Ukrainian people," Zelensky wrote.

"I discussed the details with Ukraine's Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko. We agreed that implementing these changes requires a renewal of the Cabinet of Ministers."

Svyrydenko, who previously led the Economy Ministry, wrote on social media that she had met with President Zelensky to discuss Ukraine's challenges, the changes needed to bolster the work of the government, and Kyiv's relations with international partners. She added that she would continue to serve the Ukrainian state.

The decision still needs to be approved by the parliament.

Zelensky's party will meet on July 14 to discuss the personnel changes, two lawmakers told the Kyiv Independent.

The likely candidates to replace Svrydenko are the head of state-owned energy company Naftogaz, Serhii Koretskyi, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, who served as prime minister from 2020-2025, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, a lawmaker from Zelensky's party told the Kyiv Independent.

Zelensky announced on social media that he met with all four officials individually earlier today.

Koretskyi is currently seen as the leading candidate, although one lawmaker told the Kyiv Independent: "I don't know him at all. I haven't heard of him before."

Another lawmaker in the party told the Kyiv Independent, on condition of anonymity, that "it's all just talk at this point."

On Ukraine's new political strategy, Zelensky wrote that Kyiv's foreign policy priorities include agreements with the U.S. to license Patriot air defense missile production, the European anti-ballistic missile project, as well as Ukraine's EU accession process, and a reset in relations with Hungary and Poland.

Other priorities include Kyiv's relationship with the Gulf countries regarding economic and security cooperation, as well as further engaging with China and international organizations to bring Russia's invasion to an end, he added.

Zelensky also announced that there will be changes in the leadership of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies, although he did not specify which ones.

The Ukrainian leader last conducted a major government reshuffle in January 2026, following a major corruption scandal involving members of his inner circle in November 2025, including former head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak.