Zelenskyy taps Sergii Koretskyi as Ukraine's new PM as Cabinet reshuffle gathers pace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday endorsed Sergii Koretskyi, chief executive of state-owned energy company Naftogaz, to become the country's next prime minister, while leaving uncertainty over the future of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov amid a wider government reshuffle.

The nomination comes after Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stepped down earlier this week following just a year in office. Ukraine's Parliament accepted her resignation on Tuesday and is expected to vote on Koretskyi's appointment on Thursday.

Zelenskyy has offered little explanation for replacing Svyrydenko, saying only that the government needed a leadership refresh.

Addressing reporters in Kyiv, the Ukrainian president said Koretskyi was the most suitable candidate to lead the government because preparing the country for the coming winter had become Kyiv's immediate priority.

"The priorities are clear – preparing for winter,” Zelenskiy said. ”Therefore, following all the consultations, Sergii Koretskyi is surely the most prepared candidate for the post of prime minister of Ukraine.”

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The prime minister’s resignation automatically triggers the resignation of the entire cabinet, meaning a wider shakeup is expected.

Particular attention has turned to the fate of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, at a time when the tide on the battlefield has been shifting in Ukraine’s favour as it presses a campaign of long-range drone attacks on Russia.

Fedorov, 35, is a promoter of technological innovations who comes from outside the defence ministry establishment and took charge there six months ago.

Asked whether Fedorov would retain his post as defence minister in the new cabinet, Zelenskyy said he would meet Fedorov and the army leadership later on Wednesday before a planned meeting with lawmakers from the ruling party.

With inputs from agencies