Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has nominated First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as the country’s next prime minister, he announced on July 14, officially initiating a widely anticipated government reshuffle, Kyiv Independent reports.

“I have proposed Yulia Svyrydenko to lead the government of Ukraine and to significantly renew its work,” Zelensky wrote in a post on social media platform X. “I expect the new government’s action plan to be presented in the near future.”

Zelensky noted that earlier in the day he had met with Svyrydenko to discuss cooperation with the U.S. and Europe, strengthening the economy, expanding weapons production, and reforming the executive branch.

Under Ukraine’s constitution, the government is appointed by parliament. In order for the transition to proceed, current Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal must officially submit his resignation to parliament, which is then required to vote on the matter.

If his resignation is accepted, the entire government steps down, and lawmakers have 30 days to elect a new prime minister.

The next plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada is scheduled for this week. Zelensky’s “Servant of the People” party holds a majority of at least 231 out of 450 seats and is expected to swiftly support the president’s decision.

Speculation over a possible change in leadership has been circulating since the summer of last year. Despite a wave of personnel changes carried out by Zelensky in September 2024, Shmyhal — the longest-serving prime minister since Ukraine’s independence — remained in office at the time. | BGNES