Zelenskyy Appoints Former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as Economic Development Adviser

Chrystia Freeland Ukraine economic adviser role focuses on recovery and resilience

KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named Canada’s former Deputy Prime Minister and senior federal cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland as his new adviser on economic development to help strengthen Ukraine’s internal resilience amid ongoing war and diplomatic uncertainty.

Zelenskyy announced the appointment on social media, stating that Freeland is “highly skilled … with extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations.” He said Ukraine needs to bolster its economic foundation both to support recovery if diplomacy leads to a swift end to the conflict and to reinforce the nation’s defence in case external support delays a resolution.

Experienced international figure joins Kyiv leadership

Freeland, of Ukrainian heritage, served as Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2019 to 2024 and held senior cabinet roles including Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs. She has been a prominent international advocate for sustained support for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

In response to her new role, Freeland said she is honored to contribute on an unpaid basis to Ukraine’s economic development, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the country’s resilience amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

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

Transition from Canadian politics

As part of her transition, Freeland has announced plans to step down from her seat in Canada’s Parliament and to relinquish her previous role as Canada’s special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Her departure will trigger a by-election in her electoral district.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly noted that Freeland’s extensive experience positions her well for the advisory role and described the appointment as a reflection of Canada’s ongoing support for Ukraine’s recovery and long-term stability.

Strategic context

Freeland’s appointment comes as western leaders gather in Paris this week for security talks aimed at crafting robust guarantees for Ukraine’s future peace and defence. The move also reflects Ukraine’s broader strategy to align economic planning with wartime resilience and post-conflict reconstruction.