Zelensky defends chief of staff as corruption scandal intensifies
2 Min Read
Ukrainian lawmakers warn of growing instability as a new US peace plan pressures Ukraine to concede territory while scandals trigger high-level resignations in Kiev.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting at the presidential Palace in Athens, Greece, on November 16, 2025. (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told lawmakers he will continue to back his influential chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, despite intensifying political pressure seeking his removal over a widening corruption scandal, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with a private meeting late Thursday.
Zelensky reportedly dismissed calls from within his own ranks to dismiss Yermak, a longstanding advisor who holds significant authority in Kiev. He also warned lawmakers to brace for additional scrutiny in the weeks ahead, particularly following a new peace proposal put forward by Washington that, according to those briefed, would require Ukraine to concede territory to Russia.
The conversation came as Zelensky attempts to contain public anger and political fallout over recent allegations of graft and influence trading involving senior Ukrainian officials, including close allies.
Wider context
Two cabinet members resigned last week amid the widening scandal, prompting Zelensky to promise accountability while cautioning MPs that they would share responsibility if political infighting destabilized Ukraine’s wartime leadership.
Yermak himself has not been directly linked to the corruption claims. However, several lawmakers blame him for a failed July initiative to abolish the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions, an effort that prompted open criticism from Kiev’s Western partners.
The pressure has intensified since allegations surfaced that Timur Mindich, one of Zelensky’s closest associates, ran a scheme that involved several government ministers and was intended to divert funds from the state nuclear operator Energoatom. Mindich has since fled the country.
Compounding Zelensky’s challenges is a new 28-point peace framework circulated by the United States. The proposal reportedly mirrors key conditions presented by Moscow, including requiring Ukraine to give up territory occupied by Russian forces, limit the future size of its military, and allow for the gradual lifting of Western sanctions on Russia. The discussions come as the war enters its fourth year with no clear diplomatic breakthrough in sight.
Read more: US's 28-point plan: Recognizes Russian gains, bars Ukraine from NATO
