We’re still waiting to see what fruit recent discussions regarding a Russia-Ukraine peace deal might yield, but early on Friday came news of an additional wrinkle: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, has resigned in the wake of an anti-corruption probe.
Yermak has played a key role in the peace negotiations, so his abrupt departure raises obvious questions as to how negotiations may be impacted.
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Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office, submitted his resignation following searches by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) at his premises earlier on Nov. 28, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
Yermak is being investigated by the NABU in a case involving state nuclear power monopoly Energoatom, the biggest corruption investigation during Zelensky’s presidency. Eight suspects have been charged in the Energoatom case, and Timur Mindich, a close associate of the president, is allegedly the ringleader.
Zelensky announced Yermak’s resignation in his daily TV address:
“I want no one to have any questions about Ukraine today. Therefore, today we have the following internal decisions. First, there will be a reboot of the Office of the President of Ukraine. The head of the office, Andriy Yermak, has written a letter of resignation,” Zelensky said in his daily TV address.
Zelensky, asserting that he wanted to “avoid rumors and speculation,” further stated:
“I am grateful to Andriy for always presenting Ukraine’s position in the negotiation track exactly as it needed to be.
…
“As for the new head of the (President’s) Office, tomorrow I will hold consultations with those who could lead this institution.”
As for who will now represent Ukraine in peace talks going forward, Zelensky indicated that the delegation “would include the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the head of the General Staff, the Foreign Ministry, and intelligence officials.”
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