Svyrydenko to step down as Ukraine prepares new PM

2026-07-14

Parliament approves resignation

Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, approved Prime Minister Svyrydenko's resignation on the 14th by a majority vote. A total of 258 lawmakers voted in favor and the cabinet resigned en masse. President Zelensky is expected to appoint a new prime minister within the week, with Serhiy Koretsky, chief executive of state-owned Naftogaz, emerging as a leading candidate for the post.

Successor candidates and lawmaker coordination

According to major outlet RBK-Ukraine, Koretsky will meet lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition camps on the 15th. A meeting with ruling party lawmakers attended by Zelensky is also scheduled. Svyrydenko built a record as first deputy prime minister by leading negotiations on an economic agreement with the United States and was tapped to become prime minister in July 2025, but she was removed before reaching her first year in office.

Rising rifts within the ruling party

Many view the backdrop as an intensifying power struggle in politics and business. In Ukraine, the gap between the presidential office and cabinet on one side and the ruling party on the other widened after a corruption scandal came to light in 2025. Some ruling-party lawmakers have also rebelled on key bills, leaving votes stalled on multiple occasions. As accession talks with the European Union gain momentum, a ruling-party lawmaker told Nikkei that the EU had urged parliament to restore its lawmaking function.

Defence minister and ambassador personnel moves

Fedorov's reform drive at the defence ministry has also become a flashpoint. Since taking office in January, Fedorov has launched organizational reforms, including steps to improve transparency in weapons and equipment procurement, but opposition from some military-industrial interests and influential lawmakers who stand to lose has grown stronger. Friction has also surfaced with senior military officials wary of his rapid reform style, and local media reported that Zelensky was considering a replacement in light of the military's views. Even so, because he has delivered results in ramping up drone production and revising the conscription system, removing him could heighten concern at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, according to Ukrainska Pravda, the decision by Ambassador to the United States Stefanishyna to signal her intention to resign is believed to have backed Zelensky's judgment. The ambassador was suspected of abuse of office and was likely to be notified soon by investigators of the allegations. Zelensky was said to have considered naming Svyrydenko as her successor in an effort to break a difficult style of governing, but it remains unclear whether she would accept the ambassador post.

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