Zelensky announces a cabinet reshuffle and replaces the prime minister

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a major reshuffle of the government and the country’s top leadership, proposing the replacement of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and a change at the top of the law enforcement agencies. The initiative, outlined in a lengthy message published on X, forms part of a new political strategy through which Kyiv aims to strengthen its diplomatic and administrative efforts whilst the war with Russia now enters its fifth year.

Zelensky publicly thanked Svyrydenko for her work, describing it as “clear, consistent and effective”, and announced that he had asked her to take charge of “a new and important area of relations with a key partner”. The President also reported that he had discussed the details of the cabinet reshuffle with the Prime Minister, explaining that they had both concluded that this new phase requires a renewal of the Cabinet of Ministers.

At the heart of the strategy announced by the Head of State lies a reorganisation of foreign policy. Each priority area will be entrusted to a figure with specific expertise. Among the priorities identified are relations with the United States, in particular the licensing agreements for the production of Patriot air defence systems, and the European ballistic missile defence project, which Zelensky regards as one of the most important steps towards strengthening Europe’s security over the next decade.

The objectives also include strengthening relations with the European Union, with further progress on Ukraine’s path to accession and deeper integration across all sectors, as well as the redefinition of relations with neighbouring countries, in particular Poland and Hungary. Zelensky also identified the Middle East and the Gulf states as strategic areas, describing them as among the most promising partners in economic and security terms, whilst not overlooking China and the major international organisations, from which Kyiv expects a greater role in bringing about an end to the war.

On the domestic front, the president highlighted the need to step up efforts in the border regions and in the areas closest to the front line, which are subjected to daily Russian attacks. Among the priorities he identified were increasing military supplies to the armed forces, including all types of drones, preparing for winter and accelerating the transformation of state-owned enterprises, which are considered an essential element of the country’s resilience.