Ukraine’s Zelenskyy names GUR chief Kyrylo Budanov as top aide

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy names GUR chief Kyrylo Budanov as top aide

As Ukraine and the United States work on a 20-point plan&nbsp that could put an end to Russia’s war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff.

The Office of the President will primarily serve the fulfillment of these tasks of our nation, Zelenskyy said on X on Friday, adding that Ukraine needs to put more emphasis on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as the diplomatic course of negotiations.

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Kyrylo added, “Kyrylo has sufficient strength to deliver results in these areas.”

After Zelenskyy claimed on Wednesday that the US-brokered agreement to end the conflict was “90 percent” ready, Zelenskyy announced the appointment of the head of the Ministry of Defense’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR). This is a crucial moment in the nearly four-year conflict with Russia.

Since Russia launched an unprecedented assault on Ukraine in 2022, Budanov has been credited with carrying out a number of daring operations against Russia. Since being appointed by Zelenskyy to the position in August 2020, the 39-year-old has run the GUR.

Budanov claimed he would continue to serve Ukraine and had accepted the nomination.

He said on Telegram, “It is an honor and a responsibility for me to concentrate on pressing matters of strategic security for our state at this crucial time for Ukraine.”

According to Zelenskyy’s adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, steps have been taken to formally appoint him as the president’s chief of staff.

Andriy Yermak, a divisive figure in Kyiv, will be replaced by Budanov. He was recognized as Zelenskyy’s most important ally and honored as a Hero of Ukraine, but he resigned in November as a result of extensive corruption investigations.

Public outcry over persistent high-level graft was fueled by the corruption scandal involving Yermak, who was also Kyiv’s lead negotiator in the US-backed peace talks.

Source: Aljazeera

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