Zelenskyy appoints a new prime minister for a war-weary nation

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Fresh off securing a plan to receive more U.S. weaponry, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed a new prime minister – the key negotiator of his country’s deal with the U.S. to partner on the development of minerals.

By naming Yulia Svyrydenko, the former economy minister, to become the country’s first new head of government since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy on Thursday elevated a loyal politician who has experience in diplomacy with the U.S. and other Western nations.

In addition to negotiating the mineral agreement — seen as an important way of tying U.S. interests to Ukraine’s security — the 39-year-old Svyrydenko has represented her country in a wide range of high-level talks with Western partners, including on issues of defense and economic recovery and reconstruction. In 2022, she negotiated with other countries to impose sanctions on Russia.

The outgoing prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, will become defense minister at a time when Ukraine is looking to ramp up domestic weapons production, and as President Donald Trump seeks to bring an end to the war.

“War leaves no room for delay,” Svyrydenko said on X after the parliament voted to approve her promotion. “We must act swiftly and decisively. Our priorities for the first six months are clear: reliable supply for the army, expansion of domestic weapons production, and boosting the technological strength of our defense forces.”

Svyrydenko and Shmyhal are among a wider group of officials taking on new leadership roles as Zelenskyy aims to reenergize a war-weary nation. But to Ukrainians, the reshuffling of the Cabinet is not seen as a major shift in direction for Zelenskyy, who will still be mostly relying on the same experienced officials, as opposed to introducing new faces to his leadership team.

Earlier this week, Trump endorsed a plan to have European allies buy billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment – including air-defense systems -- that can be transferred to Ukraine, which has come under intense Russian attacks.

“We all want peace as soon as possible,” Zelenskyy said Thursday in a speech to Ukraine's parliament. “At the same time, we all see how difficult it is to maintain sufficient global support, and how many other wars and crises are flaring up around the world, truly scattering global efforts. Therefore, Ukraine needs more of its own strength.”

In announcing the weapons plan on Monday, Trump also made an ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, promising to impose stiff tariffs on countries that purchase its oil if he doesn’t agree to a ceasefire within 50 days.

Shmyhal, who announced his resignation as prime minister on Tuesday, was the longest-serving head of government in Ukraine’s history, serving since March 2020.

Shmyhal will replace Rustem Umerov as defense minster. Although Umerov sought to push reforms, critics said the ministry under his command was plagued by mismanagement.

Also on Thursday, Zelenskyy nominated Olga Stefanishyna to become Ukraine’s next ambassador to the United States. In the meantime, he appointed Stefanishyna, previously the minister for European integration, as the special representative for the development of cooperation with the United States.

Ties between Ukraine and the U.S. have been uneasy since Trump returned to the White House in January, and Zelenskyy had previously said he intended to replace Oksana Markarova as Ukrainian ambassador in the U.S.

Ukraine's newly elected Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal speaks at the parliament session hall in Kyiv, Ukraine Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadym Sarakhan)

Ukraine's newly elected Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko speaks at the parliament session hall in Kyiv, Ukraine Thursday, July 17, 2025.(AP Photo/Vadym Sarakhan)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the parliament session in Kyiv, Ukraine Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadym Sarakhan)

Ukraine's newly elected Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko speaks at the parliament session hall in Kyiv, Ukraine Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadym Sarakhan)

Ukrainian 3rd Assault Brigade recruits train at the polygon in Kyiv region, Ukraine, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

FILE - Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko speaks in the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadym Sarakhan, File)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with reporters during the Ukraine Recovery Conference at La Nuvola convention center in Rome, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said Sunday.

A young woman died overnight in a hospital intensive care unit after debris from a drone fell on a house during the attack on Saturday, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.

Three other people were wounded and more than 10 apartment buildings, private houses and a high school were damaged, he said, adding that air defenses shot down 17 drones over Voronezh. The city is home to just over 1 million people and lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

For only the second time in the nearly four-year war, Russia used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv and NATO.

The intense barrage and the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile followed reports of major progress in talks between Ukraine and its allies on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly address that Ukrainian negotiators “continue to communicate with the American side.”

Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov was in contact with U.S. partners Saturday, he said.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia targeted Ukraine with 154 drones overnight into Sunday and 125 were shot down.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)