‘Everyone Must Work for Ukraine’ – Rumors of Yermak’s Demise Appear to Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

After days of speculation that President Volodymyr Zelensky would bow to pressure and dismiss his chief of staff Andriy Yermak after a domestic energy corruption scandal, Zelensky made it clear after meeting with his parliamentary faction that Yermak’s job was safe, at least for now.

As per Ukrainska Pravda’s sources, parliamentarian Mariana Bezuhla asked the president whether he planned to dismiss Yermak, the Head of the President’s Office, and other officials, but according to sources: “Zelensky said that staffing matters in the President’s Office are the president’s responsibility, and he made it clear that Yermak would not be dismissed.”

Zelensky seemed to confirm that position in his evening address, describing his meeting with his Servant of the People faction.

“This evening, I had a meeting with the faction of the parliamentary majority, and there were various issues, including sensitive ones. But the understanding is clear: everyone must work for Ukraine, and so it will be.”

The rumors of Yermak’s imminent political death surfaced after recent energy corruption scandals, involving serving ministers prompted opposition parties to call for the resignation of the entire government and the formation of a new parliamentary coalition.

Last week, Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk offered their resignations after investigators had found that current and former administrators of state nuclear energy company Energoatom had tampered with contracts to generate bribes, and then laundered roughly $100 million through a secret office. 

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Former Polish Ambassador on Zelensky’s Letter to Putin

Former Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Jan Piekło characterized President Volodymyr Zelensky’s open letter to Vladimir Putin as a tactical psychological strike that effectively challenged the foundations of the Kremlin’s power. The letter’s release was strategically timed to coincide with the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an event overshadowed by Ukrainian drone operations striking targets over 1,000 kilometers from the border.

On Monday, Politico had reported that four parliament insiders explained how the situation with Yermak was particularly sticky for Zelensky because the pressure was coming partly from within the ranks of his own Servant of the People party.

“The attacks on such a crucial ally could hardly come at a more sensitive moment for Zelensky,” Politico wrote. “Kyiv faces a massive budget shortfall, and the president must convince his Western allies that Ukraine is a safe place to send billions of euros in vital funding.

Zelensky drove that point home in his evening address: “A wartime parliament must be an effective parliament,” he said. “And there will be decisions that will help with this. Task number one for everyone is a constructive diplomatic process with America and all our partners.”