Zelenskyy holds Defense Council meeting, setting new tasks

President appointed Oleksandr Lytvynenko as the new Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and announced the renewal of the work of the NSDC.

"Oleksandr Valeriyovych (Lytvynenko - ed.) worked in the National Security and Defense Council, and now he can combine this experience with that of the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. In fact, it is in this conjunction – the NSDC and the FIS – that we should consider the future work of the National Security and Defense Council and its Secretariat," Zelenskyy said.

The directions for the updated work of the NSDC are as follows.

• Enhancing predictability. Ukraine needs to strengthen its ability to forecast and influence processes that affect the national security of the country.
• Secondly, continuing the implementation of current tasks of the system, especially sanction policies.
• Thirdly, doctrinal work.

"We have started developing the Ukrainian Doctrine, which will become a new basis for Ukraine's policy and strategic decisions. The clarity of national guidelines and systematic implementation of them," explained the president.

• Fourthly, cybersecurity and information. The NSDC has the potential to work more on protecting the country from hostile destabilization operations and coordinating all state institutions in this field.
• Fifthly, work related to the Staff, project decisions, and monitoring the implementation of decisions.

Change in leadership

On March 26, the President of Ukraine dismissed the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleksandr Lytvynenko. Oleh Ivashchenko was appointed to this position. At the same time, the former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Lytvynenko, was appointed as the Secretary of the NSDC, a position previously held by Oleksiy Danilov.