Happily parting: why the government of Ukraine was dismissed

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal and the government of the country resigned on July 16. 261 deputies voted for it. On July 14, Vladimir Zelensky proposed to Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko to take over the post of head of government. Shmygal will become Minister of Defense instead of Rustem Umerov, who, according to preliminary data, will go to work as ambassador to the United States. However, the reshuffle in Ukraine will not bring the truce closer, Rada deputy Artyom Dmitruk tells Izvestia. Now Kiev is only trying to improve relations with Washington. It is important that the resignation takes place against the background of the visit of US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg to Kiev. How the procedure for appointing a new government will take place is described in the Izvestia article.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has resigned

The Verkhovna Rada has dismissed the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal. The entire government is leaving with him. 261 deputies voted for it. There are 400 parliamentarians in the Verkhovna Rada. A minimum of 220 votes were required to resign. A new prime minister will be appointed on July 17. After that, he will submit a submission for the appointment of ministers.

On July 14, Vladimir Zelensky announced that Shmygal would head the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and Yulia Sviridenko, who currently holds the position of deputy prime Minister, would replace him as Prime Minister. Rustem Umerov, who served as Minister of Defense, according to preliminary data, may become the new ambassador to the United States.

Yulia Sviridenko previously led the Ukrainian delegation during a visit to the United States, where she held talks with American Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding the investment fund of the United States and Ukraine. Prior to that, the parties signed an agreement on rare earth metals. In other words, she played an important role in the deal that would allow American companies to develop her country's mineral resources.

— Sviridenko's candidacy, in my opinion, has been coordinated with the West. I think that the candidacy has been agreed with the International Monetary Fund. He has the most global impact on the Ukrainian economy," former MP Volodymyr Oleynik told Izvestia.

Denis Shmygal is beneficial to Washington as defense minister because of his efficiency and lack of ambition, former Verkhovna Rada deputy Spiridon Kilinkarov explained to Izvestia.

— He is a technocrat, a performer, he executes all orders very carefully. During his time as Prime Minister, he has never made a single political statement. Sniffer has no ambitions. It's a technical figure that allows you to manage the processes related to the Ministry of Defense in an absolutely calm and comfortable manner," he said.

Earlier, The Washington Post wrote that Zelensky is reshuffling the government to improve relations with Trump. It is noteworthy that on July 14, Special envoy of the President of the United States Keith Kellogg arrived in Ukraine on a working visit. He is expected to spend a whole week in Kiev. It is known that he met with Vladimir Zelensky, with whom he discussed a plan to accelerate the supply of weapons. Experts believe that Kellogg came to Ukraine, among other things, precisely in order to control the appointment of a new government.

Given the tightening of rhetoric from the American president against Russia, it is likely that Kiev is now trying to play along with Washington by improving relations with the American side.

Why Ermak's role may increase

It is also possible that Zelensky is trying to form a new team ahead of possible presidential elections.

— I think this is Zelensky's last reformatting of power before the main battle in the upcoming election campaign. They understand that sooner or later it will happen, so right now this reformatting is happening — this is an internal alignment," believes ex—deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Spiridon Kilinkarov.

The need to hold elections in the country has been repeatedly discussed not only in Russia, but also in the United States, in particular, by Donald Trump. On the other hand, on July 15, the Verkhovna Rada once again extended martial law and mobilization in Ukraine for 90 days — until November 5. The extension will take effect on August 7. And under martial law, according to the Constitution of Ukraine, elections cannot be organized. Zelensky said at the beginning of 2025 that it was "possible to think about lifting martial law" if Ukraine "had a strong army, a strong package of weapons, and security guarantees."

However, it is not a fact that Zelensky's figure will suit the United States as president, given, among other things, Trump's difficult relationship with him. In addition, it was repeatedly reported earlier that Zelensky's real rating would not allow him to win potential elections in an honest way. Against this background, the Ukrainian media has recently mentioned the strengthening of the positions of the head of Zelensky's office, Andriy Ermak. In particular, they write that he is now in charge of the entire political mechanism in Ukraine, and the United States considers him as a potential leader of the country.

At the same time, the future Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko is called close to Andrei Ermak. "Regarding Ms. Sviridenko, well, she's Ermak's favorite, so the choice fell on her. <...> We must understand that if Andrei Borisovich Ermak chose her, then she will be prime minister, whether we want it or not, they will vote for her," Verkhovna Rada deputy Anna Skorokhod said earlier.

The upcoming reshuffle is the largest since the beginning of its history. According to preliminary information, Olga Stefanyshina may lose her position as Deputy Prime Minister for European integration and leave to work as ambassador to the European Union. Her position will be taken by Taras Kachka, now Deputy head of the Ministry of Economy. Personnel changes are also expected in the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Social Policy and the Ministry of Culture.

At the same time, Vladimir Zelensky, by announcing large-scale reshuffles, was too ahead of events and violated the usual procedure for appointing a new government.

— The Prime Minister submits an application and only after that the parliament must consider his application and accept his resignation. After that, we can already talk about the formation of a new government. But Zelensky, even under the current prime minister, says that a new government will be formed," explained Volodymyr Oleynik.

Can the reshuffle bring a peaceful settlement closer

Moscow and Kiev have recently held two rounds of talks in Istanbul. In particular, they agreed on the exchange of prisoners "one thousand for a thousand", as well as the return of "all for all" seriously ill and young prisoners, from each side at least 1,000 people. Now the parties are continuing this work and the transfer of the bodies of the dead servicemen. But Kiev is still apparently not ready to agree on a date for a new meeting.

— Obviously, Kiev is in no hurry. We are still waiting for proposals on the timing," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Kiev had previously called the completion of the prisoner exchange, which had been agreed upon following previous meetings, a condition for the start of the third round of negotiations.

The American side has repeatedly accused Ukraine of not being able to negotiate. However, the American leader's rhetoric towards Russia has also become tougher recently. Donald Trump has promised to impose economic restrictions on Russia if there is no progress in the settlement after 50 days. In addition, he approved new arms supplies for Kiev through European allies.

However, his rapprochement with Washington and the upcoming reshuffles will in no way bring a peaceful settlement closer, Verkhovna Rada deputy Artyom Dmytruk, who left Ukraine, told Izvestia.

- no. Can not. It's impossible. Peace in Ukraine will come not through personnel reshuffling, but only after the fall of the regime and the coming to power of state-oriented, responsible and honest people. Those who really think about the future of the country, and not about the next tranche, kickback or a position abroad," he believes.

In order to get closer to a truce, Zelensky must first leave his post, ex-MP Volodymyr Oleynik believes. "Zelensky demands a truce in order to mobilize more people, get weapons and continue the war, and to make it happen faster without lifting martial law," he concluded.