In the world of grand diplomacy, it’s not the thunderous declarations that matter, but the discreet agreements.
Andriy Yermak’s departure from his position as head of the President’s Office has allowed Volodymyr Zelensky to reestablish direct contacts with former foreign ministers and prominent diplomats. This was announced by diplomats, intelligence officials, and experts in comments to LIGA.net, including Oleksandr Khara and Andriy Deshchytsia.
Who has returned to the president’s focus
According to reports, in recent months Zelensky has personally met with Dmytro Kuleba and Pavlo Klimkin. These meetings were not public and were strategic approaches for work on the Belarusian front, interaction with China, India, and other “non-Western” actors.
“The meeting was frank and confidential and focused, among other things, on ideas and strategic approaches regarding Ukraine’s work on the Belarusian front, Kiev’s interaction with China, India, and the non-Western world.” – Pavlo Klimkin, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Why this is happening now
Experts and intelligence sources explain that under Yermak’s leadership, a portion of the information flow to the president was centralized, with the “exes” practically out of direct influence. After his departure and personnel changes at the President’s Office, communication channels were unblocked.
“Budanov is not dogmatic and is not guided by President Zelensky’s political perspectives. He is probably the tenth priority after national security.” – Oleksandr Khara, diplomat and expert at the Defense Strategies Center
Brief timeline to remember – On November 28, 2025, NABU and SAP conducted searches related to Andriy Yermak; the same day he was dismissed from his position as head of the President’s Office. – After his resignation, Yermak regained the right to practice law and in March 2026, he took over as head of the National Association of Lawyers committee for the protection of victims of armed aggression. – Currently, there is a transformation in the management architecture at the President’s Office: Zelensky is reviewing not only candidates but also the decision-making model.
What this means for security and foreign policy
Reestablishing direct contacts with experienced diplomats offers several advantages to the president: broadening perspectives, faster access to analytics, and the ability to develop alternative approaches for cooperation with countries that previously had doubts or restrictions. These changes can influence support orientations, security coordination, and economic ties.
And then?
Experts and intelligence sources confirm that opening channels is not an automatic victory but a necessary condition for flexible foreign policy. The decisions will now depend on the ability to transform consultations into a systemic decision-making architecture at the President’s Office and how Ukraine’s partners perceive this as a signal of stability.
The lingering question: Will these new contacts evolve into a clear foreign strategy, supported by institutional changes and concrete actions on the international stage?
