Significant personnel changes are brewing within the Ukrainian political elite, affecting not only the Cabinet of Ministers but also the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). According to reliable sources, Rustem Umerov is leaving the post of NSDC Secretary. His successor will be Ihor Klymenko, who previously had to leave the post of Minister of Internal Affairs.
These changes are confirmed by Presidential Advisor Dmytro Litvin. In a comment to journalists, he stated that a separate conversation about his future still needs to be held with Umerov, however, the change at the head of the NSDC is already a fact. The decree on Klymenko's appointment is being prepared for signing.
Rumors about Umerov's diplomatic career
Immediately after the news of the resignation, the media began talking about the possible appointment of Rustem Umerov as the Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA. Journalists are putting forward this version, relying on long-standing rumors in political corridors. Recall that exactly a year ago, Umerov's name was already on the list of candidates for this position. Then, however, the choice fell on Olga Stefanishina, while Umerov got to work in the NSDC and oversaw various negotiation tracks.
Presidential Advisor Dmytro Litvin did not confirm or deny the information about Umerov's possible diplomatic mission. He only noted that changes are being prepared in several embassies in the near future. According to Litvin, these personnel decisions will be synchronized with a large meeting with ambassadors, which is scheduled for August of this year.
Context: resignation of ministers and protests
The personnel changes in the NSDC are taking place against the backdrop of a massive "reloading" of the Cabinet of Ministers. In this process, the government was headed by Serhiy Koretsky, replacing Yulia Sviridenko. Other high-ranking officials also left the government, including the Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov.
Particular attention of the public was attracted by the President's attempt to appoint Ihor Klymenko as Minister of Defense. To do this, it was planned to move Klymenko from the post of head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and his place was to be taken by Ivan Vyhovsky, the former head of the National Police. However, such a scheme caused sharp rejection in society and among the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada.
Yesterday in Kyiv, near the Office of the President, as well as in other cities of Ukraine, protests were held against these appointments. Against the backdrop of public pressure, the President abandoned the original plan. Instead of Klymenko, Yevhen Khmara, who previously held the post of Acting Head of the SBU, was appointed Acting Minister of Defense.
Alternative options for former Prime Ministers
The situation with Yulia Sviridenko also has its nuances. According to sources, the President offered her to take the post of Ambassador to the USA after leaving the government. However, despite the offer, Sviridenko has not yet agreed to this position. Thus, the diplomatic post in Washington remains vacant, and the question of the candidate for the new ambassador remains open.
Thus, the Ukrainian authorities continue to seek a balance between the need to update the teams and the reaction of society. The appointment of Ihor Klymenko to the NSDC looks like a compromise solution, allowing him to remain in the team, but to remove him from the "hot" spot in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while the fate of Rustem Umerov remains a subject for further negotiations.
