MOSCOW — Ukraine’s government, already under strain from political infighting, a frozen conflict in the country’s east, and a sagging economy, fell under scrutiny again on Wednesday when its economy minister handed in his resignation, saying the leadership routinely blocked his reform efforts.

The country’s minister of economy, Aivaras Abromavicius, said he and his team could no longer drive forward much-needed reforms and received pushback on their efforts from government leaders including members of President Petro Poroshenko’s party.

‘‘My team and I have no desire to be a front for blatant corruption or puppets for people who want to take control over state funds as they did in the old government,’’ Abromavicius told reporters at a press conference in Kiev. ‘‘It wasn’t just a lack of political will. [They were] actively seeking to paralyze our work in the government.’’

Abromavicius, a Lithuanian native and former investment banker, advocated deregulation and wide-scale privatization in Ukraine. He was appointed as the finance minister 14 months ago along with a cadre of other political newcomers from the private sector, including finance minister Natalia Jaresko, an American. Their appointments were cautiously viewed as indicators that the new government would go through with long-overdue economic reforms.

As he announced his resignation, Abromavicius said Ukraine needed a total reset of power.

Associated Press