Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak resigns after anti-corruption raid
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he resigned following the anti-corruption raid on the home of his private secretary Andriy Yermak.
Yermak, 54, has been Zelensky’s closest adviser throughout Russia’s all-out war but has come under increasing pressure over a corruption scandal, although he has not been charged with any crimes.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies raided his apartment in the Kiev government building early Friday, and Yermak said on social media there was “full cooperation on my part.”
Zelensky had recently appointed his chief of staff to lead key negotiations in the coming days; US President Trump was spearheading a new push to end the war with Russia.
“I am grateful to Andriy for the fact that Ukraine’s position towards negotiations has always been presented properly: it has always been a patriotic attitude,” the Ukrainian leader said in Kiev on Friday. he said.
“But I want there to be no rumors or speculation. Regarding a new head of office, I will hold consultations with those who can lead this institution tomorrow. When all attention is focused on diplomacy and defense in war, internal strength is needed.”
Yermak’s departure from Ukraine’s leading circle will be a major blow for Zelensky; US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will arrive in Kiev later this week as part of Trump’s draft peace plan. US officials are heading to Moscow next week.
Even hours before the raid on his apartment, Yermak underlined the significant influence he wields over Ukraine’s leadership and explained his government’s position that it was facing US pressure to make territorial concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“As long as Zelensky is president, no one should trust that we will give up the land. He will not give up the land,” Yermak told The Atlantic website.
Russia has demanded that Ukraine hand over territory it still controls in the eastern Donetsk region, including many strategically important cities.
“If they do not withdraw, we will achieve this by force of arms,” Putin said on Thursday.
Yermak admitted during his interview that he was under “tremendous” pressure to recant, adding that “the case was quite noisy and there needed to be an objective and independent investigation without political influence.”
