Who will meet Trump's envoys after Zelenskyy's former aide steps down
Photo: Former Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak (Getty Images)
Since Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak resigned, Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, will travel to Miami to meet with the envoys of US President Donald Trump, according to Financial Times journalist Christopher Miller.
In Miami, Umerov will meet with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Initially, according to Miller, the meeting was canceled, but it was later confirmed that it would take place.
"I'm told Rustem Umerov will still meet in Miami with Trump envoys this weekend," Miller wrote on X.
Previously, Axios reported that Yermak was supposed to fly to Miami for talks with Witkoff and Kushner. However, due to his unexpected resignation on November 28, the meeting was called into question.
Addressing the situation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on November 28 that the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations will be represented by the chief of the General Staff, the intelligence, the National Security and Defense Council, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previously, Yermak led the delegation.
Searches at Yermak's residence and his resignation
On the morning of November 28, NABU and SAP conducted searches at the residence of Andriy Yermak. He later confirmed the searches and stated that he is cooperating with the investigation.
These searches may be related to the Midas case - a large-scale corruption investigation in Ukraine's energy sector involving individuals from Zelenskyy's inner circle (his former business partner), several ministers and officials, and others. More details on the searches and the scandal are available in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
Although NABU did not announce any suspicions after the searches, Yermak submitted his resignation on the evening of November 28. Zelenskyy accepted his resignation and announced that consultations on a new head of the Presidential Office will begin on November 29.
