MOSCOW – In a swift move that underscores the fragile interplay between domestic turmoil and international diplomacy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Saturday appointing Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), as the head of the country's delegation for upcoming peace negotiations. The decision, detailed in Decree No. 869/2025 and published on the official presidential website, marks a pivotal reshuffle just as Kyiv prepares for critical discussions with the United States and other partners aimed at ending Russia's nearly four-year invasion.
The decree explicitly states: "Approve the new composition of the Ukrainian delegation for participation in the negotiation process with the US and other international partners: Rustem Enverovich Umerov – Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, head of the delegation." This appointment replaces Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's longtime chief of staff and former lead negotiator, who was dismissed earlier in the week amid explosive allegations of corruption tied to a sprawling $100 million embezzlement scheme at Ukraine's state-run atomic energy company, Energoatom. Yermak's abrupt exit, announced by Zelenskyy in a televised address on Friday, has sent shockwaves through Kyiv's political elite, amplifying calls for accountability as the nation grapples with war fatigue and mounting pressure from Western allies to finalize a peace deal.
Umerov, a 43-year-old Crimean Tatar with a diverse background in business, philanthropy, and politics, brings a blend of strategic acumen and international experience to the role. Born in 1982 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to a family of Crimean Tatar heritage displaced during Soviet-era deportations, Umerov holds degrees in economics and finance from Ukraine's National Academy of Management. Before entering politics, he built a career as an investor and entrepreneur, co-founding venture capital firms and serving as a delegate to the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People. His political ascent began in earnest after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea; Umerov advised Mejlis leader Mustafa Dzhemilev and co-chaired the Crimea Platform, a diplomatic initiative launched in 2021 to rally global support for Crimean sovereignty. In 2022, he joined Ukraine's negotiation team with Russia in the war's early days and later headed a parliamentary commission overseeing international aid during martial law.
Umerov's tenure as defense minister from September 2023 to July 2025 was marked by both accolades and scrutiny. Appointed amid scandals plaguing his predecessor Oleksii Reznikov, he oversaw procurement reforms and bolstered Ukraine's drone production amid battlefield setbacks. Despite these efforts, his time in office drew criticism from anti-corruption watchdogs, including a January 2025 NABU probe into alleged abuse of power related to defense procurement disputes and undeclared family assets in the U.S. Nonetheless, Zelenskyy elevated him to NSDC secretary in July 2025 as part of a broader wartime cabinet reshuffle, praising Umerov's "unwavering commitment to Ukraine's security." Now thrust into the diplomatic spotlight, Umerov is tasked with navigating a labyrinth of concessions that could redefine Ukraine's future.
The delegation under Umerov's command is a formidable ensemble of military and intelligence heavyweights, reflecting Zelenskyy's emphasis on a unified front. Key members include Andriy Hnatov, the Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, whose 27 years of service span commanding marine brigades to leading joint operations in the Donetsk region. Appointed in March 2025 to accelerate military reforms, Hnatov has been instrumental in restructuring Ukraine's forces amid manpower shortages and Russian advances. Also aboard are Kyrylo Budanov, head of Defense Intelligence; Vadym Skibitsky, his deputy; Oleksandr Poklad, deputy head of the Security Service of Ukraine; Serhii Kyslytsia, first deputy foreign minister; and Yevhen Ostryansky, first deputy NSDC secretary. Zelenskyy announced that the group would convene with U.S. counterparts "late next week," building directly on preliminary discussions held in Geneva earlier this month.
Those Geneva talks, held on November 23, 2025, at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, represented a tentative breakthrough in stalled diplomacy. Led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, the sessions refined an initial 28-point U.S. peace framework—drafted with Kremlin input—that had drawn sharp rebukes from Kyiv and European allies for appearing overly favorable to Moscow. The original proposal called for Ukraine to cede control of the occupied Donbas region, impose military curbs, and forgo NATO membership—terms Zelenskyy decried as tantamount to "surrender." European powers, including Britain, France, and Germany, countered with their own blueprint, advocating a ceasefire along current front lines and deferring territorial disputes.
By session's end, the parties unveiled a "refined peace framework," trimming the document to 19 points and addressing Kyiv's red lines on sovereignty, prisoner exchanges, and the return of abducted children. A joint U.S.-Ukrainian statement hailed the outcome as "constructive and respectful," with commitments to "intensive work" in the ensuing days. Rubio described the dialogue as "the most productive and meaningful" yet, noting that unresolved issues—like NATO's role—had been narrowed significantly. On the sidelines, European leaders such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb echoed cautious optimism, viewing the revisions as an "interim result" that preserved Ukraine's agency.
U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has aggressively pursued an end to the conflict since his January 2025 inauguration, injected fresh hope—and caution—into the process this week. In a Truth Social post on November 24, Trump mused: "Is there really much progress possible in the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine? Don’t believe it until you see it for yourself, but maybe something good just may be happening." Speaking to reporters on November 26, he elaborated that "only a few remaining points of disagreement" persisted, though he stressed that true success would hinge on "tangible results" rather than rhetoric. Trump's envoy, Witkoff, is slated to visit Moscow next week for parallel discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has signaled openness to the framework as a "basis for settlement" while insisting on "denazification" and demilitarization clauses.
Yet, the shadow of Yermak's resignation looms large over these efforts. The former chief of staff, a Zelenskyy confidant since the president's 2019 campaign, tendered his resignation hours after anti-corruption agents from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) raided his Kyiv apartment on November 28. The probe, dubbed Operation Midas, stems from a 15-month investigation uncovering 1,000 hours of wiretaps implicating senior officials in kickbacks from Energoatom contracts. Though Yermak faces no formal charges, opposition lawmakers and even allies within Zelenskyy's Servant of the People party demanded his ouster, arguing his taint undermined Ukraine's leverage in talks. Zelenskyy, in accepting the resignation, lauded Yermak's "patriotic" negotiation stance but vowed a "reboot" of his office to quash "rumors and speculation."
The scandal's timing could not be worse. As Russian forces grind forward in Donetsk—capturing Pokrovsk after months of brutal attrition—and launch overnight strikes on Kyiv that killed at least five on November 25, Ukraine's resolve is tested on multiple fronts. Economically, the war has shrunk GDP by 30% since 2022, with foreign investment in arms production—now at $100 million annually—offering a glimmer of self-reliance but insufficient against Russia's superior manpower. Public polls reflect wariness: A March 2025 Razumkov Center survey found only 17.5% trust in Yermak, mirroring broader disillusionment with governance amid blackouts and mobilization drives.
Analysts see Umerov's elevation as a pragmatic pivot. "He's untainted by the immediate scandal and has the Tatar heritage to symbolize resilience against Russian imperialism," said a Kyiv-based security expert, speaking anonymously. Yet challenges abound. Russia's monitoring of the fallout suggests opportunistic exploitation, with Kremlin spokespeople decrying "political chaos in Kyiv" as a boon for Moscow. European allies, wary of a deal that might embolden Putin, have floated multinational peacekeeping forces, while NATO's Mark Rutte called the framework "good but needing refinement."
As the delegation departs for Washington, the stakes are existential. Zelenskyy, in a November 29 X post, urged: "We expect results from Geneva to be hammered out in the U.S.—a just peace, not capitulation." With the war's fourth anniversary looming in February 2026—marking three years since the full-scale invasion—Ukraine's intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov has forecasted a "window" for resolution then, contingent on U.S. pressure. Casualties have surpassed 1 million combined, per UN estimates, and frontline troops like those in Kharkiv express a weary defiance: "Peace at any cost? No—we fight for dignity," one soldier told reporters amid drone strikes.
The coming days could forge a path to cessation or deepen the quagmire. As Umerov boards his flight, the echoes of Bucha's mass graves and Mariupol's ruins remind all involved: True peace demands more than signatures—it requires justice. For Ukraine, the delegation's success may determine not just borders, but survival.
