Zelenskyy appoints new PM, orders 50% local arms boost

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reshuffled Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers, appointing Yuliia Svyrydenko as the new prime minister, the first leadership change since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Zelenskyy tasked the new government with increasing the share of domestically produced weapons on the front lines from 40% to at least 50% within six months to enhance Ukraine's military self-reliance amid declining Western arms supplies. The president emphasized the need for an audit of all defense agreements and sustainability programs to ensure they fully serve Ukraine's interests, alongside plans to streamline bureaucracy, liberate social forces, and strengthen justice against corruption. Svyrydenko, known for her role in negotiating a U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal and her loyalty to the presidential office, is expected to lead efforts to boost domestic arms production, secure new U.S. defense agreements, and unlock economic potential. Former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has transitioned to the role of defense minister, while the cabinet reshuffle aims to reinvigorate Ukraine's war effort without a major shift in personnel. Zelenskyy highlighted the urgency of these reforms given the global distraction caused by multiple crises and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.