In 1991, the post was grandfathered from the already existing first deputy chairman that was part of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR.

Along with other members of the Cabinet of Ministers, a newly appointed first vice prime minister takes the same oath of office at a plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).

Every newly appointed member of an already existing cabinet needs to take the oath at the next plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada.

In April 1991 the Council of Ministers represented by existing government of Vitold Fokin and created by 12th convocation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukrainian SSR was renamed into the Cabinet of Ministers.

Because of the 1991 August Putsch in Moscow, the Communist Party was prohibited in Ukraine.