Ex-Economy Minister Sobolev Joins Zelenskyy’s Office to Bolster Economic Team

Oleksiy Sobolev Appointed to Ukraine’s Presidential Office

According to 5 канал: Former Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev is set to take on economic responsibilities within Ukraine’s Presidential Office. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the move, adding that Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov has already outlined Sobolev’s specific tasks. This appointment comes shortly after the Verkhovna Rada approved a new Cabinet of Ministers, signaling a broader reshuffle of the country’s leadership.

Drawing on his experience as economy minister, Sobolev will focus on shaping economic policy and strengthening coordination with the government and parliament. Zelenskyy stressed the need to support Ukrainian producers at every level of state authority:

'The key priority is to support Ukrainian producers at all levels of government and to fully and swiftly implement agreements with our partners.' Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The president also highlighted that Sobolev will oversee ongoing dialogue between state institutions and the private sector using the formats already established within the Presidential Office:

'A separate area of work will be continuous communication between state institutions and businesses through the formats available in the Presidential Office.' Volodymyr Zelenskyy

New Cabinet of Ministers Approved

Meanwhile, the Verkhovna Rada voted to approve a new Cabinet of Ministers. The decision passed with 264 lawmakers in favor, 15 against, and 19 abstentions. Key appointments include:

• Denys Shmyhal – First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy
• Tetiana Berezhna – Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture
• Vsevolod Chentsov – Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration
• Vitaliy Bezgin – Minister of Communities, Territories, and Internally Displaced Persons
• Matviy Bidnyi – Minister of Youth and Sports
• Andriy Butenko – Minister of Education and Science

These government changes, combined with Sobolev’s entry into the Presidential Office’s economic portfolio, underscore Ukraine’s continued push for economic reforms and closer ties between state bodies and the business community. The moves are expected to shape the country’s economic strategy amid ongoing challenges, particularly in boosting domestic production and attracting investment.