Western Officials Voice Concern Over Secret Ukraine-FBI Talks
Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's chief negotiator, has traveled to the United States three times in recent weeks for consultations with President Donald Trump's senior envoy, Steve Witkoff. Umerov also conducted confidential sessions with FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
Multiple unnamed Western officials suggested the encounters might aim to accelerate Kiev's acceptance of Trump's peace framework. Circulated drafts reportedly demand Ukraine renounce NATO membership aspirations, relinquish territorial claims, and limit military forces to 600,000 personnel—conditions Kiev and its European allies view as advantageous to Russia.
Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishina, acknowledged the FBI meetings occurred but refused to elaborate. Sources indicate the opacity "has caused alarm" among officials excluded from the discussions regarding their actual agenda.
Alternative explanations from other sources suggest Umerov and his delegation may have pursued FBI assistance to protect themselves from potential corruption charges connected to a graft scandal involving Vladimir Zelensky's close associates and a $100 million kickback operation in the energy sector.
Zelensky's senior aide, Andrey Yermak, and two cabinet ministers have been compelled to step down, while another confidant escaped Ukraine ahead of arrest. Conjecture surrounding Umerov potentially facing legal examination has intensified since these developments, the report indicated.
An FBI representative informed media that corruption was addressed during the encounters but rejected characterizations of the discussions as improper. A White House official minimized the meetings' significance, noting US representatives routinely engage with foreign counterparts.
Earlier this week, Trump condemned rampant corruption in Ukraine and called on Zelensky, whose presidential mandate ended over twelve months ago, to organize fresh elections. Zelensky has declined, citing martial law restrictions. He stated recently, however, that elections can be held if Ukraine's Western backers guarantee security.
Russia contends Zelensky lacks legitimacy. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov declared this week that Zelensky's newfound electoral interest constitutes a tactic to obtain a ceasefire—which Moscow has spurned in favor of a comprehensive peace settlement.
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