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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Canada’s former finance minister and deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, as his new economic adviser. The move comes amid a broader shake-up in Kyiv’s leadership as Ukraine continues to navigate its ongoing conflict with Russia and prepares for possible peace negotiations ahead.
Freeland’s appointment points at Kyiv’s focus on strengthening its economy and boosting investor confidence. She has long been a high-profile supporter of Ukraine, with deep personal ties to the country through her Ukrainian heritage.
Chrystia Freeland’s Ukraine connect
Freeland’s ties to Ukraine run deep. As a young exchange student and pro-democracy activist, she drew the attention of the KGB (Soviet Union’s primary foreign intelligence and domestic security agency from 1954 until its dissolution in 1991), which gave her the code name “Frida” and targeted her with surveillance and smear campaigns.
In the 1990s, she worked for the Financial Times in Russia and authored a book on the post-communist privatisation of Russian industry, establishing her expertise in Eastern European economic affairs.
Over the years, Freeland has been a frequent visitor to Ukraine, hosting an annual discussion forum organised by oligarch Victor Pinchuk. The forum has consistently attracted political figures, business leaders, and diplomats from around the world, helping to position Freeland as a key bridge between Ukraine and the West.
Her appointment comes at a time when Kyiv faces not only the challenges of post-war reconstruction but also the urgent need to boost investor confidence and navigate complex international relations.
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View AllBy bringing in someone with deep personal and professional ties to Ukraine, Zelenskyy aims to reinforce the country’s economic strategy while signalling a commitment to global engagement and reform.
On social media, Zelenskyy explained why he chose her, saying: “Chrystia is highly skilled in these matters and has extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations.”
Today, I appointed Chrystia Freeland @cafreeland as an Advisor on Economic Development. Chrystia is highly skilled in these matters and has extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations. Right now, Ukraine needs to strengthen its internal… pic.twitter.com/2WOl27MyVA
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 5, 2026
He added that Ukraine now needs to build what he called “internal resilience”—both to accelerate recovery if diplomacy yields results quickly, and to fortify its defence if international support takes longer than expected.
“Right now, Ukraine needs to strengthen its internal resilience–both for the sake of Ukraine’s recovery if diplomacy delivers results as swiftly as possible, and to reinforce our defence if, because of delays by our partners, it takes longer to bring this war to an end,” Zelenskyy said in his post.
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