On July 18, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree that appointed Rustem Umerov, previously his Minister of Defense, as Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC).
“To appoint Rustem Enverovych Umerov as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine,” the presidential decree No. 496/2025 reads.
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Before Umerov’s appointment, the position was held by Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who was appointed on March 26 of last year, after having previously headed the Foreign Intelligence Service since July 2021. From 2014 to 2019, Lytvynenko was Deputy Secretary of the NSDC – the 14th person to hold the position.
Earlier this week, Zelensky began a government shake-up that that would result in an administration that was “more dynamic, more focused on victory, and more responsive to public demand.”
Previously, there had been speculation that Umerov would become Ukraine’s next ambassador to the United States succeeding Oksana Markarova.
According to Bloomberg, during a July 4 phone call with US President Trump, Zelensky discussed potential replacements that included Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, and Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, as well as Umerov.
Yesterday Zelensky announced that he had appointed Olha Stefanishyna as the Special Representative for the Development of Cooperation with the United States which she will hold while approval of her nomination as Ukraine’s US ambassador proceeds.
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“All the necessary procedures for approving her candidacy with Washington as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States are underway,” Zelensky said.
Earlier on Thursday the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, confirmed the appointment of Yulia Svyrydenko as the country’s new Prime Minister, after she secured 262 votes in favor of the President’s choice.
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