The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, changed the composition of the delegation for negotiations to resolve the conflict with Russia, appointing Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, as its head.
According to decree No. 869/2025, published on the website of the President’s Office, the new delegation includes: Oleksandr Bevz, Advisor to the Cabinet of the President; Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense; Andriy Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Oleh Ivashchenko, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service; Serhiy Kyslytsia, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Yevhen Ostriansky, First Deputy Secretary of the NSDC; Oleksandr Poklad, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine; Vadym Skibitsky, Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate. The decree came into effect from the moment of publication.
The importance of the negotiations is due to them being a key tool in achieving peace in the region. The previous head of the delegation, Andriy Yermak, who was dismissed on the same day, was responsible for coordinating talks in Geneva. The latest round of negotiations led to the reduction of the “peace plan” from 28 to 19 points. Meanwhile, Ukraine is preparing for a meeting with the American side to discuss further steps.
