President Volodymyr Zelensky has named new representatives for the Ukrainian delegation in the upcoming peace talks.
The new list follows the resignation of Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, after anti-corruption agencies raided his home. Yermak was part of the delegation before his resignation.
The list, effective since Friday, includes multiple defense and intelligence officials, as well as some senior diplomats, but omits Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
- Rustem Umerov – Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO), Head of the Delegation
- Oleksandr Bevz – Advisor to the Cabinet of the President of Ukraine, Office of the President of Ukraine
- Kyrylo Budanov – Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR)
- Andriy Hnatov – Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
- Oleh Ivashchenko – Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SZRU)
- Serhiy Kyslytsya – First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
- Yevheniy Ostryansky – First Deputy Secretary of the RNBO
- Oleksandr Poklad – Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)
- Vadym Skibitskyi – Deputy Head of HUR
Zelensky’s decree said the officials will represent Kyiv not only in talks with the US and other allies, but also with Russia.
At present, it is unclear which officials will represent Kyiv in the planned talks in Washington. Bloomberg, citing a source, reported that Umerov and Kyslytsya were en route to the US for discussions with US President Donald Trump’s Russia envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The Economist’s Oliver Carroll also claimed Budanov was en route to the US, though Kyiv Post’s source in HUR said its chief is still in Kyiv.
“Budanov didn’t go (to the US). Well, at least not yet. There was a meeting with the president,” the person said.
Zelensky also shared a photo of his meeting with Budanov on Saturday.
“Meeting with the head of HUR, Kyrylo Budanov. Kyrylo reported on the security situation, the political situation around Ukraine, and the current prospects. We identified some important points in the negotiation process,” Zelensky wrote.
A senior US official told Kyiv Post: “Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will meet Ukrainian officials Sunday in Florida.”