Kiev [Ukraine], July 15: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky nominated Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to the post of prime minister in a bid to drastically reform the government's operations.
Reuters news agency on the evening of July 14 quoted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as saying he was nominating Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to be prime minister, in an important political reform for the country devastated by conflict with Russia.
Ms Svyrydenko, 40, rose to prominence this year during tense negotiations over a mineral deal with the United States that nearly tore apart Kyiv's relations with its most important military ally.
If the proposal is approved, Ms. Svyrydenko will replace Mr. Denys Shmyhal as Prime Minister of Ukraine .
"I have proposed to Ms. Svyrydenko to lead and radically reform the work of the Ukrainian government. I look forward to the presentation of the new government's action plan in the near future," Mr. Zelensky wrote on the social network X.
The leader said he and Svyrydenko discussed specific measures to boost Ukraine's economic potential, expand support programs for Ukrainians and increase domestic arms production.
Ms. Svyrydenko is Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. She was appointed to take charge of the Ukrainian economy a few months before Russia invaded in February 2022.
She belongs to a generation of young Ukrainian leaders who led the country through the war. Her nomination still needs to be approved by the Ukrainian parliament.
Born in 1985, Ms. Svyrydenko graduated with honors from Kyiv National University of Economics and Trade and received a master's degree in anti-monopoly management.
According to the website of the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, she started her career in the private sector in 2008.
Since 2015, she has held several senior leadership positions in the Chernihiv regional government. In 2019, she was appointed deputy minister and since July 2020 has been serving as Permanent Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine.
On November 4, 2021, she was appointed as Permanent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
In another development, President Zelensky on July 14 received US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv and discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defense and Ukraine's purchase of weapons with European support.
"We discussed the path to peace and practical things we can do together to bring peace closer. This includes strengthening Ukraine's air defenses, joint production and procurement of defensive weapons in coordination with Europe. And of course, sanctions against Russia and those who help it," he wrote on the social network X.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper