Ukraine's prime minister resigns as Zelenskyy reshapes cabinet; Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi tipped as successor

The resignation

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday, 12 July 2026, that Ukraine is changing its political strategy and that Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko would step down. Zelenskyy said the decision followed a direct discussion with Svyrydenko and that a reorganisation of the Cabinet of Ministers was necessary to implement the updated strategy. He thanked her for what he described as clear, stable and effective leadership of the government.

Svyrydenko confirmed her resignation in a Telegram post shortly after the president's statement.

I am proud that I had the honour of leading the government in one of the most difficult periods in Ukraine's modern history.

She added that she and the president had discussed the challenges facing the country, the changes needed to improve the government's work, and relations with international partners. Svyrydenko served as prime minister for one year, having been confirmed by the Verkhovna Rada in July 2025. Before that she headed the Ministry of Economy.

A new role in Washington

Zelenskyy stated that Svyrydenko would take on an important direction of cooperation with a key partner. Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak wrote on Telegram that she is most likely to become Ukraine's ambassador to the United States. The Interfax-Ukraine agency, citing a well-informed source, reported that the current ambassador, Olha Stefanishyna, had asked to end her diplomatic service the previous week for personal reasons and that Zelenskyy was satisfied with her work.

This means she will leave the post of prime minister and the entire government will be reconstructed.

Zelenskyy's own statement on X singled out the United States and licensing agreements for the production of Patriot air-defence systems as among the highest-priority foreign-policy areas requiring dedicated oversight.

The frontrunner to lead the cabinet

Defence24 reported that Serhii Koretskyi, the CEO of Ukraine's state oil-and-gas company Naftogaz, is set to be nominated as the next prime minister. His candidacy is expected to be formally presented to the Verkhovna Rada, which under the constitution makes the final decision on appointing the head of government.

Koretskyi is described as a manager with many years of experience in the energy sector and one of the key figures in Ukraine's economy during the full-scale Russian aggression. As head of Naftogaz he was responsible for the functioning of one of Ukraine's most important strategic companies, overseeing the diversification of gas supplies, increasing the resilience of the energy system, and strengthening cooperation with foreign partners. Defence24 noted that his experience in managing the energy sector is seen as particularly significant during the war and the planned reconstruction of Ukraine.

Polish ties and energy cooperation

Koretskyi is reported to have good relations with Poland, built through Naftogaz's cooperation with PKN Orlen. Defence24 recalled that Naftogaz and Orlen recently signed two cooperation agreements setting out a framework for further joint work in areas critical to Ukraine's energy security and the transformation of the energy sector. The outlet suggested that appointing Koretskyi would be a choice based on experience, managerial competence, and familiarity with the most important challenges facing the state.

Wider government overhaul

Zelenskyy indicated that the personnel changes would extend beyond the prime minister's office. He said that every priority area of foreign policy would be assigned to a specific person with extensive experience, capable of implementing what is agreed at the level of leaders. He also stressed the need to intensify efforts in front-line and border regions, increase supplies of weapons and drones for the army, prepare for winter, accelerate the transformation of state-owned enterprises, and deliver on reconstruction agreements with partners. Changes are also planned in the leadership of law-enforcement structures.

Svyrydenko, in her farewell message, thanked the entire government team and said they had visited every corner of the country, paid special attention to front-line regions, taken difficult decisions under enormous pressure, survived the hardest winter, and never allowed the enemy to stop the heart of the state, its economy.

I am ready to continue serving the Ukrainian state and to carry out any task aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position, defending our national interests, and bringing a just peace closer.