Meet Sergii Koretskyi, Ukraine’s New Prime Minister After Major Government Reshuffle

Sergii Koretskyi speaks during a briefing with government officials in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 5, 2026. —Danylo Antoniuk/Ukrinform—Getty Images Sergii Koretskyi was confirmed as Ukraine’s new Prime Minister on Thursday as part of a government reshuffle led by President Volodymyr Zelensky . Koretskyi's appointment , backed by Zelensky's Servant of the People party, was approved by the Ukrainian parliament with 289 members voting in his favor. Outlining his “clear set of priorities,” Koretskyi said his key target is to “fully equip Ukraine’s Defense Forces and accelerate the expansion of our defense industrial base.” While emphasizing the importance of strengthening relations with international partners, Koretskyi mentioned “securing additional resources” as another goal. Ukraine’s “strategic course remains unchanged,” he said, referencing the country’s long-harbored desire to gain “full membership in the European Union .” Zelensky’s broader government reshuffle, which included the surprise move of replacing popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, is intended to strengthen Ukraine's diplomatic efforts and accelerate the implementation of agreements on military support. Ukraine is hoping to begin manufacturing Patriot missile interceptors after U.S. President Donald Trump said during the NATO summit in Turkey last week that the U.S. would extend Ukraine a license to manufacture the defensive weaponry as the country continues to defend itself against Russia. Zelensky confirmed the government's new direction over the weekend, embracing a fresh political strategy. “Each priority area of foreign policy will be assigned to a specific person with substantial experience who is capable of implementing what we agree on at the leaders’ level and what the Ukrainian people expect,” he said . “The most important of these areas include the United States and our agreements on licenses to manufacture Patriot systems.” Zelensky identified preparations for winter as another major pri