Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the 28th (local time) that Presidential Office Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, who became the subject of an investigation on corruption allegations, has resigned.
According to the Financial Times (FT) and others, Zelenskyy said, "Chief of Staff Yermak submitted his resignation," adding, "I thank him for always presenting Ukraine's position accurately during negotiations."
That morning, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) raided Yermak's home in connection with corruption at an energy corporations. Investigators believe that senior officials at the nuclear power corporation Energoatom and others have systematically received kickbacks equivalent to 10–15% of government contract amounts from partner companies.
Yermak is suspected of playing a key role in this. However, Yermak denies any connection.
Yermak's expression of intent to resign on the day of the raid appears to reflect a judgment that allegations of his corruption could burden Zelenskyy and become an obstacle in the ongoing end-of-war talks with the United States and Russia.
He has led the Ukrainian negotiating team to date. On the 23rd, he held talks in Geneva, Switzerland, with the U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Zelenskyy said that separate from Yermak's resignation, end-of-war talks with the United States will proceed without issue. "Russia very much wants Ukraine to make a mistake, but on our side there will be no mistakes," he said. "Our work, our struggle continues." He added that senior officials representing the military, the Foreign Ministry, and intelligence agencies will soon hold additional meetings with the U.S. delegation.