Internal debate stalls Zelenskyy’s choice for presidential office chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delayed the appointment of a new head of the Presidential Office, opting to pause the process amid internal deliberations over potential candidates and institutional reforms.

First Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov had been widely viewed as the frontrunner for the position. However, his far-reaching proposals to overhaul the Presidential Office have reportedly led Zelenskyy to suspend the appointment, RBC-Ukraine reports.

Fedorov’s prospects have also been complicated by his active role in the dismissal of Andriy Yermak, a factor that has added political sensitivity to his possible elevation. At the same time, the question of whether to reappoint current deputy heads—most notably Oleh Tatarov—has raised reputational concerns within the president’s circle.

Sources close to Zelenskyy say the president has considered integrating the Presidential Office more closely with the apparatus of the National Security and Defence Council. Nevertheless, with his attention currently focused on peace negotiations, any major restructuring of the Presidential Office has been deferred.

On November 28, Zelenskyy said that Andriy Yermak submitted his resignation. Shortly after, a decree on the dismissal of the head of the Office of the President appeared on the president’s website. This occurred against the backdrop of morning NABU searches at Andriy Yermak’s residence as part of Operation “Midas” – an investigation into misappropriations at Energoatom.

On December 4, Zelenskyy held additional meetings with the candidates for the position of the new head of the Office of the President and promised that a decision on the new head of the Office would be announced soon.

On December 8, Zelenskyy announced whom he is considering for the post of head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

Among the candidates for the post were Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov,

Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kislytsia,

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisata, Head of the GUR Kyrylo Budanov.

Against these developments, a decision on the new head of the Office of the President has not yet been made, and the process of discussing candidates continues.

By Vafa Guliyeva