The political framework of Ukraine

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Volodymyr Zelensky (since May 2019)
Prime Minister: Ioulia Svyrydenko (since 4 July 2025)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: To be determined.

Main Political Parties

Among the main parties represented in parliament stand:

- Servant of the people: founded in 2016 under the name of Party of decisive change, then renamed according to the comic television series whose main character is Volodymyr Zelensky
- European Solidarity (YeS): pro-European, it is the largest opposition party in the parliament
- All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland" (Batkivshchyna): centrist, advocates for social justice, economic development, and closer ties with the European Union
- Voice (Holos): center-right, founded in 2019 by singer Sviatoslav Vakartchouk
- For the Future (ZM): centre-right, it is known for its close ties to the Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskyi
- Trust (Dovira): supports the ruling coalition
- Platform for Life and Peace: pro-Russian, it was a new parliamentary group formed after the Opposition Platform – For Life was banned due to allegations of having ties to Russia. On 20 June 2023, the party was banned by court
- Restoration of Ukraine: parliamentary group founded in 2022, cross-party alliance dedicated to rebuilding and revitalizing the country in the aftermath of the ongoing Russian invasion.

Executive Power

The President is the head of state and is elected by universal suffrage for five years. He is the commander-in-chief of the army and nominates the Prime Minister – the head of government – who must then be approved by Parliament as the leader of the party or the majority coalition. The Prime Minister does not have a fixed five-year term and serves as long as they maintain parliamentary support. Executive power is shared between the President and the Prime Minister. The President chooses the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, while the other ministers of the Council are nominated by the Prime Minister and approved by Parliament.

Legislative Power

The legislature in Ukraine is unicameral. The parliament, called the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council), consists of 450 seats, with its members chosen on a proportional basis from parties that gain 5% or more of the national electoral vote; members serve five-year terms. The President has the power to dissolve the Supreme Council under certain conditions, such as if it fails to form a government within the constitutional timeframe. The people of Ukraine have full political rights, including the ability to vote, form political parties, and participate in governance.

Indicator of Political Freedom

Political Freedom:

3/7