In major 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 allowed Volodymyr Zelensky to establish direct contacts with former foreign ministers and top diplomats, according to comments from diplomats, intelligence officials, and experts to LIGA.net.
Who has returned to the president’s field of vision
In recent months, Zelensky has reportedly personally met with Dmytro Kuleba and Pavlo Klimkin. The meetings were not public as they were strategic approaches for work on the Belarus issue, interaction with China, India, and other “non-Western” players.
“The meeting was frank and confidential and focused, among other things, on ideas and strategic approaches regarding Ukraine’s work on the Belarus front, Kiev’s interaction with China, India, and the non-Western world.” – Pavlo Klimkin, former Foreign Minister.
Why this is happening now
Experts and intelligence sources explain that under Yermak’s leadership, some information flows to the president were centralized, leaving the “exes” effectively outside direct influence. After his departure and personnel changes at the President’s Office, communication channels were unblocked.
“Budanov is not dogmatic and does not follow President Zelensky’s political perspectives. This is probably the tenth priority after national security.” – Oleksandr Khara, diplomat and defense strategies expert.
Brief timeline to remember – On November 28, 2025, NABU and SAP conducted searches related to Andriy Yermak; on 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 the leadership of the National Lawyers Association committee responsible for protecting 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
Re-establishing 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 where doubts or restrictions prevailed earlier. 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. Now, decisions will 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 measures on the international stage?
