Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as an adviser on economic development. Zelenskyy signed the decree on Monday, following a meeting with Freeland, where he expressed confidence in her experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, Freeland's new role comes at a crucial time as Ukraine seeks to bolster its internal resilience amidst ongoing diplomatic negotiations and potential delays in ending the current conflict. Freeland, who has Ukrainian roots, previously served as the Canadian deputy prime minister from 2019 to 2024 and is actively involved in Canada's parliament. She also holds the position of Ottawa's special envoy for Ukraine's reconstruction.
In a related development, Zelenskyy has appointed First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya as First Deputy Head of Ukraine's presidential office. This decision followed a meeting with Kyslytsya on Saturday. Zelenskyy noted that Kyslytsya would continue his diplomatic efforts, focusing on enhancing communication with international partners and synchronizing efforts with Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kyslytsya, who served as Ukraine's permanent representative to the UN from February 2020 until February 2025, was recently dismissed as first deputy foreign minister by the Cabinet, as announced by Taras Melnychuk, the Ukrainian government's permanent representative in parliament, via Telegram.