Kyiv discusses new Cabinet lineup as government overhaul takes shape

Consultations are underway in Ukraine on the formation of a new Cabinet of Ministers, with likely future Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi playing a central role in the talks.

According to RBC-Ukraine, citing an informed source, Koretskyi has been holding closed-door meetings focused on staffing decisions for the future government.

The source said a meeting was held with lawmakers from the ruling party, as well as a separate discussion involving former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniyenko, Servant of the People faction leader Davyd Arakhamiia, and his deputy Andrii Motovylovets.

In addition, consultations were reportedly conducted with the head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov.

“That is where decisions on personnel were being made. They have now moved on to discussions with lawmakers and officials — both current officeholders and those expected to replace them,” the source told RBC-Ukraine.

This government overhaul builds on President Zelenskyy's announcement on July 12, where he signalled a strategic shift in Ukraine's political approach amid ongoing challenges.

Zelenskyy proposed replacing Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and adjusting leadership in several law enforcement agencies as part of a broader effort to strengthen foreign policy implementation and national priorities.

Serhii Koretskyi, the frontrunner for the prime minister role, brings extensive experience from Ukraine's energy sector. Born in 1978 in Lutsk, he graduated from Lutsk State Technical University and later attended the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School.

Koretskyi built his career in the private fuel industry, serving as CEO of the Continuum Group and its WOG gas station network, before transitioning to state roles where he turned around the loss-making Ukrnafta into a profitable entity and later took the helm at Naftogaz in May 2025.

By Jeyhun Aghazada