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.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. 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.