The newly appointed advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on economic development, Chrystia Freeland, has announced that she will be leaving her seat in the Canadian Parliament.
“Ukraine is at the forefront of the modern global struggle for democracy, and I am delighted to have this opportunity to contribute on a pro bono basis as an economic advisor to President Zelensky,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Freeland announced that she is stepping down as the Canadian Prime Minister's Special Representative for Ukraine Recovery.
She also added that in the coming weeks she will leave her seat in the Canadian Parliament.
“I want to thank my constituents for their many years of trust in me. I am very grateful for having had the honor of representing you,” Freeland said.
Context of the appointment
On January 5, Zelensky announced the appointment of former Canadian finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, as an advisor on economic development.
Who is Chrystia Freeland
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is perhaps one of the most influential Ukrainian women on the world political stage, wrote NV magazine in August 2020, naming 20 Ukrainian women who have achieved world-class results in politics, art, sports, science, and technology.
The Canadian politician inherited her Ukrainian heritage from her mother, who was born in a refugee camp for Ukrainians in Germany. The future Deputy Prime Minister was born in Canada and educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, at Harvard and Oxford Universities.
Career in the Canadian government
Chrystia Freeland has been an important figure in Canadian politics since 2015, when the Liberals came to power, and served as deputy to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
She held key positions in the government and in 2020 became the first woman to serve as Canada's finance minister.
In December 2024, Freeland unexpectedly resigned as finance minister, hours before she was due to deliver the fall economic statement, causing shockwaves in Ottawa.
In September 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asked Freeland to become Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.