The fall was swift, coming amid high-stakes talks over Ukraine’s future nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Andriy Yermak resigned on Friday, November 28, as head of Ukraine’s presidential administration after investigators raided his home in connection with a corruption scandal in the energy sector – a crisis that has shaken the Zelensky administration like never before.

As recently as Sunday, November 23, the close confidant of the president – well known for his imposing presence – was still leading the delegation sent by President Volodymyr Zelensky to Geneva to amend the Trump plan, the first version of which seemed to have been dictated by Kremlin envoys. Alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Yermak welcomed the “good progress” made after hours of discussion, with the support of European representatives. The revised proposal gave greater consideration to the security interests of Kyiv and European capitals.

This revised plan is set to be the subject of further talks with the Trump administration, likely in Florida, according to Bloomberg. The Ukrainian negotiating team was expected to be led by the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, and a deputy foreign minister. Further discussions were also planned with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week, during a visit to Moscow by Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy, and Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. All signs at this stage suggest that the Kremlin leader would reject the new version or demand it be overhauled, as he appears to relish seeing Zelensky stumble over a corruption scandal.

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