Ukraine Appoints New Government, Races to Boost Arms Production

Ukraine’s parliament appointed a new Prime Minister and Defense Minister in the country’s biggest government shake up since the war began. The new government also approved a plan to expand local arms manufacturing.  “We must reach the level of 50% Ukraine-made weapons within the first 6 months of the new Government’s work,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “The Ministry of Defence will have greater influence over weapons production, and there must be more Ukraine-made weapons, more of them in the hands of our warriors on the frontline.” Read More: The Hidden War Over Ukraine’s Lost Children Zelensky noted that current domestic production of weapons used by Ukraine is at 40%, significantly higher than at any other point since Ukraine’s independence 30 years ago. The call to increase Ukrainian arms production comes as Russia ramps up its war on Ukraine, including the largest aerial attack since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Russian forces continue to make gradual ground advancements but at a steep toll. The reshuffle comes days after President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced a new plan that will see the alliance buy U.S.-made weapons, including Patriot missiles, to help Ukraine defend itself. Read More: The Man Who Wants to Save NATO Trump also threatened “very severe tariffs” against Russia and countries that buy its oil and gas if a cease-fire deal is not reached within 50 days, in addition to voicing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.“I speak to him a lot about getting this thing done, and I always hang up and say ‘well that was a nice phone call’ and then missiles are launched into Kyiv,” he said. “After that happens three or four times you say ‘the talk doesn’t mean anything’.” Trump has increasingly criticized Putin in recent weeks. The reshuffle of Ukraine’s government has been widely seen as a bid to boost relations with Trump. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who was key in striking a mineral deal with the U.S. in May, was appointed as the new Prime Minister on Thursday. Outgoing Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will serve as Defense Minister and Olha Stefanishyna as Ukraine’s new ambassador to the U.S. The outgoing ambassador, Oksana Markarova, had angered Republicans after organizing Zelensky’s visit with Democratic politicians to a Pennsylvania arms factory during the U.S. presidential election.