Ukrainian President Volodymyr 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.
Zelensky announced his decision on Monday, January 5.
“Chrystia is an expert in these issues and has significant experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations,” the president said in a statement.
The Ukrainian leader also stressed that the country now needs to build internal stability for the sake of recovery, if diplomacy works as quickly as possible.
“And to strengthen our defense, if our partners' delays mean we have to work longer to end the war,” Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized.
Context and biographical facts
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is perhaps one of the most influential Ukrainian women in the global political arena, 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.
Political career in Canada
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 addition to financial issues, Freeland had a major influence on Canada's foreign policy. She headed the ministries of international trade and foreign affairs and led the Canadian negotiating team during US President Donald Trump's first term, resulting in the signing of a trade agreement.
Further developments
In September 2025, Freeland announced that she was stepping down as Canada's Minister of Transport and Domestic Trade.
At the same time, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asked Freeland to become Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.