“An indulgence we cannot afford.” Zelensky, criticized at a crucial moment for Ukraine before the US negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's decision to appoint former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, currently Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, as head of the delegation to the crucial negotiations in the United States, thus replacing Andrii Iermak, is criticized by Bogdan Nahaylo, editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Post publication.

The journalist argues in an opinion piece published ahead of the key US meeting that the move “should alarm anyone” and is a continuation of a pattern in which Zelenskiy favors political loyalty over diplomatic competence “at a time when Ukraine can least afford such indulgence”.

According to Nahaylo, Umerov's appointment comes at a time when Ukraine needs “maximum professionalism” given the stakes of security, territorial integrity and international support.

The journalist notes that Umerov is close to Andrii Iermak and that both are involved in wartime corruption scandals. It also recalls the Anti-Corruption Action Center report which indicated that Umerov's family owns eight luxury properties in the US, only three of which have been officially declared.

“In short, Umerov remains caught in a web of clientelism that undermines Ukraine's credibility on the international stage,” writes the journalist.

Nahaylo says the decision undermines Ukraine's credibility, as many experienced diplomats are being ignored.

Among the names mentioned are former foreign ministers Dmytro Kuleba, Pavlo Klimkin and Vadym Prystaiko, but also Serhiy Kyslytsia, former ambassador to the UN, or the head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, who is included in the delegation, but does not lead it.

“Ukraine has a Ministry of Foreign Affairs whose staff consists of career diplomats who have spent decades mastering the art of negotiation, building relationships with foreign counterparts and representing Ukrainian interests abroad. However, Zelenskiy has repeatedly bypassed these professionals in favor of personal confidantes and political loyalists,” says the editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian publication.

In his opinion, Zelenski resembles Donald Trump, who in turn appointed close associates with no diplomatic experience to strategic missions. Nahaylo warns that ignoring career diplomats in favor of the president's “favorites” can damage negotiations and Ukraine's image on the international stage.

The Kyiv Post editor-in-chief argues that there is still time for Zelenskiy to reassess his strategy and put competence ahead of personal loyalty, warning that “the future of Ukraine and the credibility of the leadership are already at stake.”

Bohdan Nahaylo has been the editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Post since December 2021. He is a British-Ukrainian journalist and commutes between Kyiv and Barcelona. Previously, he was head of Amnesty International's Soviet Union unit, a senior United Nations official and political adviser, and director of Radio Free Europe's Ukrainian service.