Ukraine's Parliament Appoints Yulia Svyrydenko as New Prime Minister

Ukraine's parliament on Thursday appointed Yulia Svyrydenko as the country's new prime minister, finalizing a major government overhaul initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Svyrydenko, 39, who previously served as first deputy prime minister and economy minister, was confirmed with 262 votes in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada. Her appointment makes her the second woman to hold the post of prime minister in Ukraine's history. The move comes a day after the dismissal of former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal's government.
The vote was carried by Zelenskyy's "Sluha Narodu" (Servant of the People) party, which provided 201 votes, and supplemented by several other factions and groups.
Before the vote, President Zelenskyy addressed parliament, presenting Svyrydenko's candidacy and outlining key tasks for the new government. He called for an audit of all defense agreements with international partners and announced a "new level of defense cooperation."
Later on Thursday, the Rada also approved key members of Svyrydenko's cabinet. Former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal was appointed as the new defense minister with 267 votes, and Andriy Sybiha was reappointed as foreign minister.