Zelensky’s top aide and key peace negotiator resigns after anti-corruption raid of his home

By Ivana Kottasová, Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Photo: Sergei Gapon / AFP / Getty Images / File via CNN Newsource One of the closest aides of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has resigned, just hours after the country's anti-corruption agencies raided his home. Officially the chief of staff to the president, Andriy Yermak has often been seen as Ukraine's second most powerful man. He has been leading the Ukrainian delegation during recent talks in Geneva with Washington. Yermak's resignation announced by Zelensky on Friday (local time), complicates Kyiv's position going into crucial peace negotiations with the United States. "I want no one to have any questions about Ukraine today. Therefore, today we have the following internal decisions. First, there will be a reboot of the Office of the President of Ukraine. The head of the office, Andriy Yermak, has written a letter of resignation," Zelensky said in his daily TV address. Yermak did not immediately issue a public statement. He confirmed earlier on Friday (local time) that the raid was going on, saying on Telegram that he was "fully cooperating" with the authorities. "The investigators are not encountering any obstacles. They have been given full access to the apartment, and my lawyers are on site, interacting with law enforcement officials," he said. Both of Ukraine's two main anti-corruption bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), were involved in the searches, according to a statement released by the agencies on Friday (local time). The statement did not disclose the reason for the raids, but the raid comes just two weeks after the two agencies announced a sweeping investigation into an alleged kickback scheme concerning Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure. The scandal has already taken down two of Zelensky's ministers and embroiled a former business associate from his days in the entertainment industry. But the latest development is particularly awkward for Zelensky given Yermak's recent elevation to the top of Ukraine's negotiating team. It is unclear who will take Yermak's spot in the next rounds of the negotiations, expected as early as in the next few days. Announcing the resignation, Zelensky said the delegation will include the Chief of the General Staff, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and our intelligence services. Talks with the United States have been difficult. Last week, the Trump administration came up with a 28-point peace plan that largely reflected Russia's extensive wishlist, including demands for Ukraine to give up territory, reduce its army and be barred from joining NATO. Ukrainian and European officials strongly opposed that version of the peace plan and Yermak's delegation managed to convince the US to revise it. More talks have been scheduled for the coming days. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (local time) that he was expecting a US delegation to arrive to Moscow early next week, while Zelensky said the Ukrainian team was also set to meet the Americans. While some US officials, including President Donald Trump, have touted great progress being made this week, any chances of a swift breakthrough appear slim, especially after Putin indicated on Thursday (local time) that he is unwilling to budge from his maximalist demands. Photo: Gleb Garanich / Reuters / File via CNN Newsource Corruption woes Ukraine has long been seen as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe, a major obstacle to its aspirations to join the European Union. The EU has made it clear to Kyiv that it must implement strong anti-graft measures if it wants to become a member and the Biden administration urged the Ukrainian government to do more to root out corruption in 2023. Fighting rampant government corruption was also Zelensky's main campaign pledge ahead of the 2019 election. A former comedian who played Ukraine's president on a hit TV show, Zelensky had zero political experience before his victory - but he tapped into voters' dismay on the issue. During the war, Zelensky has fired a slew of senior Ukrainian officials over corruption allegations, and his government has instigated anti-corruption measures, including the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. International organisations, including the EU, the United Nations and the G7 group of leading industrialised nations, have previously praised Zelensky's government for its anti-corruption efforts, including the fact that even the country's top officials are no longer beyond the reach of law enforcement. Asked about the latest developments on Friday (local time), Paula Pinho, the spokesperson for the European Commission, said the investigations "show that the anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine are doing their work". But Zelensky's decision earlier this year to fast-track a...

Zelensky’s top aide and key peace negotiator resigns after anti-corruption raid of his home

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