Ukraine’s prime minister resigns, opening the door to a broad government reshuffle

KYIV Ukraine AP Ukraine s prime minister communicated his resignation Tuesday in the first formal step of what is expected to be a considerable reshuffle of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy s ruling body which could also see the country s ambassador to Washington replaced I am tendering my resignation from the post of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal wrote in a letter posted on his Telegram page Zelenskyy explained Monday that he has offered Shmyhal s job to -year-old Yuliia Svyrydenko who is now deputy prime minister and the country s first female commercial sector minister Svyrydenko played a key role in negotiating a U S Ukraine mineral agreement She has frequently represented Ukraine in high-level talks with Western partners focusing on defense cooperation economic recovery and reconstruction It wasn t forthwith clear how the reshuffle will play out in coming days as the Ukrainian parliament must schedule a vote on Zelenskyy s proposed changes amid the all-out war launched by Russia on Feb The reshuffle coincides with increasing pressure on the front line by Russia s bigger army and escalating assaults by drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities U S President Donald Trump pledged Monday to supply more weapons for Ukraine paid for by European countries But Kyiv agents are keen to lock in Washington s future assistance amid fears that the Republican administration could walk away from the conflict To us it is very significant in the context of what is happening now to strengthen ties with the U S Zelenskyy declared last week The Ukrainian leader in recent days reported that he thought Shmyhal would make a good defense minister a move that would make the current defense chief Rustem Umerov available to take over as Ukraine s envoy to Washington observers note Zelenskyy had previously voiced his intention to replace U S Ambassador Oksana Markarova Umerov was appointed as Ukraine s defense minister in September following a series of corruption scandals He has sought to introduce reforms but critics stated that the Defense Ministry was plagued by mismanagement Follow AP s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https apnews com hub russia-ukraine Source