Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation of the current ministers’ activities in the context of preparing the state for winter challenges and wartime conditions. According to him, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, along with members of parliament, must ensure three key tasks for the country in a “dialogue and unity.”
This is reported by Kyiv24
Government Priorities for the Coming Year
The President identified the adoption of the state budget for 2026 as the main task that guarantees Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, support defense, carry out social payments, and ensure the resilience of the state. This is what the citizens of the country expect, according to him.
“The most important thing is to adopt the budget for ’26, meaning our state’s ability to defend itself, ensure defense, provide all social payments, and necessary resilience. This is what people need.”
In addition to financial issues, Zelensky stressed the importance of promptly submitting candidates for the positions of Minister of Energy and Minister of Justice. He emphasized that the current ministers should be assessed in terms of their suitability for the challenges facing the country during the winter period and wartime.
Personnel Changes and Anti-Corruption Investigations
On November 24, the president held a meeting with the government to discuss the selection of candidates for the vacant positions of Minister of Energy and Minister of Justice. As a result of the discussion, an agreement was reached that the Prime Minister, together with the majority faction deputies, would determine the candidates for these key positions.
Prior to this, on November 19, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Svitlana Hrynchuk and Herman Halushchenko from their positions as Ministers of Energy and Justice due to investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine regarding alleged corruption in the energy sector. During the investigation, NABU detective Oleksandr Abakumov reported that detectives had recorded the involvement of four ministers of the Cabinet of Ministers in various situations, but noted that this pertains to officials from different periods, not just current government officials.
Following the personnel decisions, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the submission to parliament of requests for the dismissal of Minister of Justice Herman Halushchenko and Minister of Energy Svitlana Hrynchuk.