Andriy Yermak

The President of Ukraine amended the decree of June 21, 2024, updating the composition of the delegation for negotiations on accession to the European Union. Taras Kachka has been appointed head of the delegation and chief negotiator.

Heraskevych will appeal to the court to restore justice after the decision of the International Olympic Committee regarding his disqualification for the "helmet of memory", which he was never able to use in the race at the 2026 Olympics.

Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi gave an interview where he spoke about the failure of the 2023 counteroffensive and SBU searches. Political observer Hennadii Dubov analyzed the interview, noting that it is not a bid for elections, but an element of political criticism of the current government.

Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi spoke about the failure of the 2023 counteroffensive due to a lack of resources and the SBU searches in 2022, which he regarded as an act of intimidation. He warned the President's Office about his readiness to call in military personnel to protect the command center.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that former Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak was dismissed not due to a corruption investigation. He noted that he had "his reasons" for such a decision.

President Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 20/2026, which introduced Kyrylo Budanov to the National Security and Defense Council as the Head of the President's Office. At the same time, O. Ivashchenko was removed from the Council.

Political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko believes that the personnel changes initiated by President Zelenskyy are aimed at renewing power, strengthening the defense sector, and demonstrating his key role. The appointments of Budanov and Fedorov are aimed at forming a new defense strategy and technologizing production.

President Zelenskyy proposed Mykhailo Fedorov for the post of Minister of Defense to develop drone technologies. Kyrylo Budanov will head the Presidential Office, taking one of the most influential positions in the country.

Serhiy Leshchenko and Mykhailo Podolyak were reappointed as advisors to the Presidential Office after Andriy Yermak's dismissal. According to Leshchenko, no significant changes have occurred in the work of the Office, and personnel appointments are not a priority for the President.

People's Deputy Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported that there will be no new head of the Presidential Office in the near future. Instead, a team of deputies and advisers will work.

Ukraine finds it difficult to cope with Donald Trump's peace initiatives, which demand territorial concessions to Russia without security guarantees. This leads to increased pressure on Kyiv and a worsening military situation.

A draft resolution on the resignation of Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi was registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The document appeared on the website on December 9, but the text has not yet been published.

The government has announced a tender for the manager of the seized assets of IDS Ukraine, the producer of "Morshynska" and "Myrhorodska" mineral waters, with a short deadline for submitting documents by December 12. This decision has drawn criticism due to legal miscalculations and haste before the new law on ARMA comes into force.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took 14th place in Politico's ranking of the most influential people in Europe. The ranking was topped by US President Donald Trump, and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was placed 5th.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is considering Denys Shmyhal and Mykhailo Fedorov as the main candidates for the position of Head of the Presidential Office. However, according to him, the Verkhovna Rada may have difficulties finding replacements for these ministers.

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office accused Ukraine's top military command of genocide against Donbas residents, starting in 2014. The list includes Zaluzhnyi, Poroshenko, Yermak, and other Ukrainian figures and politicians.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not make a decision regarding the new Head of the Presidential Office until his return from his foreign visit. People's Deputy Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported that the country has lived 10 days without a head of the Presidential Office after Andriy Yermak's dismissal.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed Andriy Yermak from the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the National Security and Defense Council. This decision is recorded in decrees No. 902/2025 and No. 901/2025 after Yermak's dismissal from the post of Head of the President's Office.

People's Deputy Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported that the new head of the Presidential Office may be announced today, following the resignation of Andriy Yermak a week ago. President Zelenskyy previously held meetings with candidates for the position.

NABU detective Ruslan Magamedrasulov is a suspect in two criminal proceedings: regarding entrepreneurial activity involving the cultivation of industrial hemp and its sale to Dagestan, as well as possible assistance to "conversion centers. " The Kyiv Court of Appeal changed his pre-trial detention from custody to personal recognizance, which the Prosecutor General's Office explains by reduced risks and sufficient evidence.

President Zelenskyy met with candidates for the position of the new Head of the Presidential Office. A decision on the new head of the Office will be made soon.

Political scientist Oleh Posternak in an op-ed for UNN on the possible consequences of Andriy Yermak's resignation for NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyi and Investment Capital Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy stated that he has not yet decided on the new head of the Presidential Office. He plans to hold additional consultations after returning to Ukraine to determine the direction of management.

Kaja Kallas expressed concern about possible pressure on Ukraine in peace talks and emphasized the importance of reparations credits from frozen Russian assets. She also supported Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions, stressing the importance of trust during the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. This comes amid Donald Trump's optimism about a deal to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

US and Ukrainian officials are meeting in Miami to coordinate positions before Trump's delegation travels to Moscow with an updated peace plan. Key disagreements concern territories and security guarantees.

The Washington Post reports that the US will increase pressure on Zelenskyy next week to advance a deal to end the war with Russia. This comes amid a domestic political crisis in Ukraine, including a corruption scandal and shelling.

Zelenskyy may also face problems controlling the ruling Servant of the People party and ministries amid the pluralism of Ukraine's domestic politics.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov as the head of Ukraine's delegation to participate in the negotiation process with the United States and other international partners, as well as with representatives of the Russian Federation. Previously, this delegation was headed by Andriy Yermak.

According to a journalist from The Economist, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, is heading to the United States, possibly as the leader of the negotiation process. Earlier, Rustem Umerov and Serhiy Kyslytsia traveled to the US to discuss a peace plan.