The list includes five Ukrainian officials:
- Denis Shmyhal, Minister of Defense,
- Mikhail Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation,
- Kirill Budanov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense,
- Pavel Palis, Deputy Head of the President's Office,
- Sergey Kislica, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Zelensky noted that for Shmyhal and Fedorov, there is a complication, as they will first need to be removed from their positions in the Verkhovna Rada before the appointment. He added, "I don't want it to be like in the game 'Jenga,' where you remove one piece and everything collapses." In his opinion, the president's office is of great importance, but there are also other important institutions.
The president also mentioned that all candidates hold significant positions, and he is still considering all options. "Ultimately, a decision will need to be made. If it takes a long time, I will learn to manage without a head of the office; perhaps I can do without one altogether, but a choice still needs to be made," he added.
Recall that on November 28, Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Andriy Yermak from the position of head of his office. This decision followed a search conducted by Ukrainian investigators at Yermak's place as part of an investigation into large-scale embezzlement at the company "Energoatom." No charges have been brought against him. After the search, Yermak resigned and expressed his intention to go to the front.
Immediately after his departure, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, now leads the negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine.
