Zelenskyy reveals who will represent Ukraine in talks instead of his former aide Yermak
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
After the resignation of Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ukrainian delegation in negotiations will be represented by the Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the intelligence, the National Security and Defense Council, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"Negotiations will take place soon (the meeting with US representative Daniel Driscoll - ed.), and our representatives will be present — the Chief of the General Staff, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security and Defense Council Secretary, and our intelligence," he said.
Zelenskyy added that the meeting with the US side will take place in the near future, though he did not specify an exact date. It had previously been announced that the new round of negotiations would happen on November 29–30. Yermak announced the next round of talks.
"When we all face such an external challenge — war — we must remain strong internally. One hundred percent of our efforts will be focused on defending Ukraine. Everyone must now act in the interests of our state and defend our country. This is an unchanging principle," the President added.
Searches at Yermak's residence and his resignation
On 28 November, it became known that detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) were conducting searches at the home of the Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak. Later, Yermak confirmed this himself, saying the searches were taking place at his residence. He added that he is cooperating with the investigation and that his lawyers are maintaining contact with law enforcement.
According to sources, the searches may be connected to the Midas case — a large-scale investigation into corruption in Ukraine's energy sector. For more details on the searches, the scandal, and other specifics, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.
Although NABU has not announced any suspicions following the searches, Yermak submitted his resignation on the evening of 28 November. Zelenskyy accepted it, and later, a decree on Yermak’s dismissal was posted on the President’s official website. It is still unknown who will become the new head of the Office of the President.
