Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov is leading a delegation to the United States to continue negotiations on a "peace plan," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on social media. The president expects a report on 30 November.
"Ukraine's NSDC Secretary and head of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Umerov, together with the team, is already on the way to the United States," Zelenskyy wrote. "Today there was a report from Rustem, and the task is clear – to operationally and substantively prepare the determination of steps to end the war."
The delegation departed on 28 November, according to sources close to the negotiating group who spoke with Ukrainska Pravda. Major General Vadym Skibitsky represents the Main Directorate of Intelligence in the delegation.
Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov did not travel to the US and remains at his workplace in Kyiv, the sources said.
Zelenskyy held a meeting with the intelligence chief without providing details.
The president's statement came after The Economist journalist Oliver Carroll reported on social media that Budanov was "heading to the US, possibly as head of the negotiation process," according to his sources.
Axios had previously reported that former head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak was expected to travel to the US for negotiations on a "peace deal."
On 28 November, Zelenskyy dismissed Yermak from the position of head of the Presidential Office following searches conducted at his premises by anti-corruption agencies. The president also approved an updated composition of the delegation participating in peace negotiations on the war started by Russia. The nine-member delegation includes NSDC Secretary Umerov, Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence Budanov, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad, and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov.
