News summary produced by Claude AI
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his backing for Sergii Koretskyi, the chief executive of Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state energy company, to serve as the country’s next prime minister. The endorsement comes as Ukraine undergoes its second cabinet reshuffle within a year, with the president citing preparedness for the approaching winter season as a key consideration.
Koretskyi would replace Yulia Svyrydenko, whose tenure as prime minister lasted approximately one year before Zelenskyy initiated her removal from office. Parliament accepted Svyrydenko’s resignation on Tuesday, with a scheduled vote on her successor planned for Thursday. Given that Zelenskyy’s party maintains a parliamentary majority, lawmakers are expected to approve his preferred candidate.
The leadership transition will trigger a broader governmental reorganization, as a prime minister’s resignation automatically leads to the entire cabinet stepping down. Particular scrutiny has focused on Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a 35-year-old technology innovator from outside the traditional defence establishment who assumed the position six months ago. Zelenskyy indicated he would meet with Fedorov and military leadership to discuss cabinet assignments before addressing ruling party lawmakers.
Zelenskyy has characterized the reshuffle as part of a new “political strategy” without providing extensive detail, noting that it encompasses appointments across government and law enforcement. He identified several foreign policy priorities driving the reorganization, including licensing agreements for Patriot air defence system manufacturing, advancement of Ukraine’s European Union membership application, and expanded cooperation with the Gulf region, which he described as one of the world’s most strategically and economically significant areas.