Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has approved the appointment of Serhiy Koretsky, the former CEO of state-owned energy company Naftogaz, as the country’s new prime minister.
Lawmakers voted to confirm Koretsky on Thursday, July 16, following a nomination submitted by President Volodymyr Zelensky and formally announced by Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk the previous evening.
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A total of 289 lawmakers backed his appointment.
During the parliamentary debate on Koretsky’s appointment as prime minister, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak asked the presidium whether Zelensky would attend the Rada session.
Stefanchuk replied that the president would not be present, adding that Zelensky’s representative in the Verkhovna Rada was attending the session instead.
During his address to parliament before the vote, Koretsky said he would “do everything in his power to be useful to the state here and now.”
He outlined several key priorities for his government, including preparing Ukraine for the coming winter, ensuring comprehensive support for the military, assisting frontline communities, supporting businesses to maintain economic stability, strengthening cooperation with international partners, and advancing Ukraine’s EU integration.
Koretsky also praised Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, who is widely expected to become Ukraine’s next defense minister.
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“Based on practical experience, having gone through the winter, I have seen the work of the Interior Ministry firsthand. I highly appreciate both the ministry’s work and Mr. Klymenko personally. I believe he is a strong, professional, and effective minister,” Koretsky said.
Asked whether his government could truly become a “government of defense,” Koretsky replied: “It can, because there is the desire, the internal need, and unity. As for the defense minister’s appointment, that is the exclusive prerogative of the president.”
When asked whether he would keep Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in his Cabinet, Koretsky declined to comment, saying parliament should first vote on his appointment as prime minister.
Earlier this week, Zelensky described Koretsky as the strongest candidate to lead the government after extensive consultations.
Speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv on Wednesday, Zelensky said Ukraine’s immediate priorities remain preparing for winter and intensifying efforts to secure a ceasefire.
“After all the consultations, Serhiy Koretsky is probably the most prepared person for the position of prime minister of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
Koretsky’s appointment comes as part of a broader government reshuffle initiated by Zelensky following the resignation of former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The parliament voted on Tuesday to dismiss her, automatically triggering the resignation of the entire Cabinet of Ministers.
During her farewell address to parliament, Svyrydenko highlighted key achievements of her government, including securing a €90 billion ($103 billion) EU financial support package.
Svyrydenko also played a central role in negotiating the minerals agreement with the United States while serving as economy minister. According to Ukrainska Pravda, Zelensky had considered appointing her as Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington, but she declined the offer.
On Wednesday, Zelensky finalized his decision to replace Defense Minister Fedorov, nominating Klymenko as his successor.
Zelensky said one of the key reasons for the change was Fedorov’s conflict with Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military.
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