July 12, 2026 / 1:46 PM EDT
/ CBS/AP
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Yulia Svyrydenko resigned from her position as Ukraine's prime minister on Sunday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that she would take on a new position within the country's government. Svyrydenko is among several Ukrainian leaders whose roles will shift, according to Zelenskyy, who said the nation is "changing its political strategy."Zelenskyy, who has remained in office under martial law because wartime elections are prohibited, has periodically reshuffled his government in an effort to bring fresh momentum to his administration.Svyrydenko, who has served as Ukraine's economy minister, was named prime minister in July 2025 at the age of 39 after playing a lead role in securing a mineral agreement between Ukraine and the United States, seen as an important way of tying U.S. interests to Ukraine's security. In a statement on social media, Svyrydenko said she was "proud to have had the honor of leading the government during one of the most difficult periods in Ukraine's modern history." She also said she had discussed "next steps" with Zelenskyy, but did not provide further details. "I remain ready to serve the Ukrainian state and carry out every task aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position, defending our national interests and bringing a just peace closer," she said.In his post announcing her resignation, Zelenskyy said he had offered Svyrydenko the opportunity to lead "a new, important area" in Ukraine's relations with a key international partner."Each priority area of foreign policy will be assigned to a specific person with substantial experience who is capable of implementing what we agree on at the leaders' level and what the Ukrainian people expect," Zelenskyy said, describing the impending reshuffle.
