Ukraine's chief negotiator appointed new foreign intelligence head

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's lead negotiator, has been appointed the new head of the country's foreign intelligence service. This marks another significant personnel change in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration, a reshuffling that has faced public criticism.

Zelenskyy announced the appointment on Monday, emphasizing that Umerov will maintain his diplomatic responsibilities focused on ending the war with Russia. Umerov played a crucial role in Ukraine's peace talks, which have not yet yielded a breakthrough. He also led discussions on drone technology cooperation and sharing wartime experiences with allies.

Ihor Klymenko, the former interior minister, will succeed Umerov as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. Umerov's appointment is the latest in a series of government changes initiated in July. These shifts have included the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was later reinstated after public pressure, and changes in the top military command.

The reshuffling has led to accusations that Zelenskyy is concentrating power within a small circle of associates. Critics also point to a lack of clear justification for the frequent changes. Zelenskyy maintains that the reorganization aims to improve state efficiency ahead of a challenging winter, with Ukraine preparing for potential Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. Umerov served as Ukraine's defense minister from 2023 to 2025 and was previously involved in prisoner exchanges and humanitarian negotiations.