Ukraine's new Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko said on Monday that her government would launch a full review of public finances to achieve "real savings" and that major privatizations should be accelerated, Reuters reported.
Sviridenko, who was elected by parliament earlier today, wrote on the social network X that her priorities as prime minister would be ensuring reliable supplies for the military and expanding domestic arms production.
The Ukrainian parliament has voted Sviridenko as the country's new prime minister, lawmakers announced on social media, as reported by Reuters.
According to several deputies, 262 deputies voted for Sviridenko, which is a convincing majority in the 450-seat parliament. The Ukrainian parliament does not postpone its sessions in wartime conditions.
Her appointment was supported by President Volodymyr Zelensky, as part of his biggest government reshuffle since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
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Sviridenko (39) has served as Minister of Economy and one of the Deputy Prime Ministers since November 2021.
A photo of the electronic board with voting results, published by MP Jaroslav Železnjak, shows that 22 MPs voted against, while 26 abstained.
Parliament is also expected to vote on the appointment of former Prime Minister Denis Šmihal, who has held the position for more than five years, as the new Minister of Defense.
Zelensky said he wants the reconstituted government to focus on deregulation, expanding economic cooperation with allies, and tougher penalties for those who threaten Ukraine's statehood and "steal its potential."
Sviridenko has experience working with top US officials — in April, she negotiated and signed an agreement with US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant that gives the United States (US) preferential access to new Ukrainian mining projects and helps finance Ukraine's reconstruction.
In a speech to parliament today, just before the vote on Sviridenko's confirmation, Zelensky announced future agreements with the US, which he said would strengthen Ukraine.
The new prime minister received congratulations from European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen: "We are completely with you as you fight for Ukraine's survival, work on the country's reconstruction and its future in the EU"
However, some opposition MPs have expressed doubts about the new government.
Yaroslav Zheleznyak of the Golos party said that the new government will be fully subordinate to President Zelensky, who has significant war powers under the Ukrainian constitution.
"The cabinet will receive instructions from the president's office on what they really need to do," Železnjak wrote.
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