Who Is Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s Pick For Next PM? What Will Be Her Role?

Last Updated:July 15, 2025, 12:16 IST

Yulia Svyrydenko is currently serving as the First Deputy PM and Economy Minister in the Ukrainian government. Once approved, she will become the second woman PM of Ukraine

During the war, Yulia Svyrydenko not only took charge of economic cooperation with the US and Europe, but also played an important role in development of the defense industry. (Instagram)

In a major political reshuffle, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday nominated Yulia Svyrydenko as the country’s next Prime Minister. If approved by Parliament, she will become the second female Prime Minister of Ukraine after Yulia Tymoshenko.

Confirmation of her appointment is considered a mere formality, as majority in Parliament is with Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy has also proposed that Ukraine’s current prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, take over as defence minister, describing him as holding the right qualifications for a very important job.

Who is Yulia Svyrydenko? What was her role during Ukraine war?

Yulia Svyrydenko is currently serving as the First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister in the Ukrainian government.

During the war, she not only took charge of economic cooperation with the US and Europe, but also played an important role in the development of the defense industry, according to reports.

Negotiating economist Svyrydenko is a trained economist and played the role of the lead negotiator in the mineral agreement with the Trump administration of America. Initially, the US had laid down conditions like controlling Ukraine economically, but due to Svyrydenko’s wisdom, Ukraine was able to get favorable terms in the agreement.

According to former Economic Minister Timofey Mylovanov, “She was the only and main leader of this conversation. If she had not been there, the agreement might have broken."

Apart from this, Svyrydenko also played a decisive role in the reconstruction of Ukraine with European countries and the post-war economic plan.

She has done remarkable work in the areas of international cooperation, defense production and investment.

What will be Yulia Svyrydenko’s role as PM?

In a post on Instagram, she spelled out the task ahead: “I am grateful to President Vladimir Zelensky for his trust – and for the opportunity to serve Ukraine at this crucial time. The Head of State identified the priority tasks he sees before the updated government: Strengthening Ukraine’s economic potential; expansion of Ukrainian support programs; scaling up the production of own weapons. These tasks can be realized through tangible deregulation, elimination of any bureaucratic interruptions, reduction of non-critical state spending and duplicating the functions of state institutions, protection of entrepreneurship and full concentration of state resources for the defense of Ukraine and recovery from combat.First of all, it is to ensure the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine and guarantee the stability of our state. The state apparatus has no right to waste resources and potential of our country. Ukraine deserves to be among the strongest economies of Europe. Ukrainian society must get clearer tools of social support. Every Ukrainian military, every Ukrainian veteran deserves specific and tangible state respect and gratitude. The decision on the appointment of the Prime Minister of Ukraine is approved by the Verkhovna Rada. Preparing for interacting with Parliament and presenting relevant government steps."

Yulia Svyrydenko worked as an economist

Svyrydenko was born on December 25, 1985 in Chernihiv, Ukraine. She graduated from the University of Trade and Economics of Kiev in 2008 and started working as an economist in a private real estate company the same year.

In 2011, she was appointed the head of Chernihiv’s trade mission in Wuxi city of China. There she took charge of bringing foreign investment and played a role in establishing a company called Eko-Vtor based entirely on foreign capital.

Yulia Svyrydenko entered public service in 2015

In 2015, she entered public service. She first became an advisor to the local government and then was appointed head of the economic development department of the Chernihiv region.

In 2017, she was made deputy governor.

Due to her leadership ability, her region attracted foreign investment of about $340 million and it ranked first in Ukraine in terms of economic development. She rose rapidly at the national level.

In 2019, President Zelenskyy appointed her Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs. In 2020, she was made the First Deputy Minister of the Department of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture. This year she was also made the Deputy Chief of the President’s Office.

In 2021, just a few months before the Russian attack, she was given the responsibility of First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister of Ukraine.

Why this appointment matters?

Amid the long war with Russia, Ukraine now wants to strengthen itself on the economic front as well. The appointment of Sviridenko is considered an important step in this direction. She will become PM at a time when Ukraine has to prove its strength at the military, economic and diplomatic le

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