Political news from Kyiv region, government decisions and Ukraine politics at Razom UA
A Ukrainian delegation headed by Rustem Umerov departed for the United States on Sunday for talks on a peace plan. The meeting will take place after the dismissal of Andriy Yermak, who had been a key negotiator with the West.
Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in October advised Ukrainian officials to ask for a 10-year suspension of tariffs instead of long-range Tomahawk missiles. This came after Trump's call with Putin, after which the United States refused to provide the missiles to Ukraine.
Russia could use even the family-reunification provision of the U.S. peace plan against Ukraine because of the legal uncertainty surrounding the concept of "family." International law has no unified definition, which creates room for manipulation.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Ukrainian delegation led by Rustem Umerov departed for the United States for talks on November 30. The meeting is intended to follow up on the results of the Geneva negotiations aimed at resolving the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump called for the airspace over and around Venezuela to be considered closed. He addressed airlines, pilots and criminals amid a standoff between the countries, without providing further details.
Belgium is blocking an EU plan to provide Ukraine with a loan of up to €140 billion using frozen Russian assets. Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the plan could undermine a future peace agreement and raises legal concerns.
Republicans are divided over strategy in Wisconsin’s April 2026 judicial race. Conservative candidates have lost the last three elections to the state Supreme Court, and now the party is debating whether to align with Trump or to distance itself from the party label.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved a new delegation for negotiations to resolve the war. The delegation will be headed by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov; its members include Budanov, Hnatov, Ivashchenko and Kyslytsia.
A Ukrainian delegation headed by Rustem Umerov and Serhii Kyslytsia has traveled to the United States to discuss a peace plan. They will meet in Florida with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sibyha said that Putin used Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as an accomplice in terror. Russia launched a massive attack on Kyiv immediately after Orbán's visit and talks about peace.
The government dismissed Halyna Hryhorenko from the post of First Deputy Minister of Culture by order No. 1345‑r of 28 November 2025. She thanked the team and partners and promised to publish details. The President announced Yermak's resignation.
EU Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath said that Kyiv must prosecute corrupt officials if it wants to join the EU. The statement came amid an investigation into a $100 million corruption scandal within Zelensky's inner circle.
Donald Trump vowed to "permanently pause migration from Third World countries" after an Afghan citizen shot and killed a National Guard serviceman near the White House. The U.S. president pledged to toughen immigration policy and deport millions of people.
The dismissal of Andriy Yermak has become a political earthquake for Ukraine. The opposition will seize on it to intensify demands for the formation of a national unity government, and Zelensky has lost his most influential adviser on the eve of difficult negotiations with the United States.
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak amid an anti-corruption investigation. NABU conducted searches at Yermak's residence; he was the country's second-most powerful person and a key negotiator with the West.
During a visit to Moscow, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Budapest was ready to host talks to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The leaders also discussed the possibility of a Russian‑American summit and cooperation in the energy sector.
Kyiv has protested the International Judo Federation's decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under the national flag, calling it a legitimization of the aggressor.
The main provisions of the peace plan, supported by the United States, for Ukraine and Russia were conveyed to the Kremlin following talks in Geneva. Discussions are scheduled to take place in Moscow next week.
Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office, confirmed that searches are being carried out in his apartment. He said he is prepared to cooperate with the investigation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Volodymyr Tolkach from the post of Ukraine's ambassador to Serbia. He appointed Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who previously headed Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.
European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribeiro accused the United States of blackmail over attempts to weaken the EU's digital rules. Washington is offering a review of steel tariffs in exchange for changes to the Digital Markets Act.
Lithuania notified the Council of Europe of its intention to join the Special Tribunal on Russia's aggression; it became the first country to do so after Ukraine.
The Moldovan Parliament denounced the agreement with the Russian Federation on cultural centers — the decision on 27 November was supported by 57 deputies; citing airspace violations and the risk of disinformation, the "Russian House" will be closed.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a voluntary military service lasting 10 months for citizens aged 18–19. By 2030, the plan is to recruit 10,000 soldiers, allocating more than €2 billion to the program.
Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov said that Russia is conducting a powerful information-psychological operation against Ukraine in the context of peace negotiations. He called the results of the talks in Geneva progressive and constructive.
Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov explained that at talks in Geneva with the United States they discussed conditions that would facilitate a ceasefire, not the terms of a truce itself. The latter can be discussed only between Ukraine and Russia.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied reports of a split in the Trump administration over resolving the war in Ukraine. He called an NBC News report about two opposing camps led by Vance and Rubio fake.
Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov denied reports of cuts to the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the talks in Geneva. He said they discussed the size of the peacetime army, and that the best guarantee for Ukraine will be a well-equipped military.
Donald Trump called the conversation between special envoy Vitkoff and Putin aide Ushakov a normal practice. The US president said that Vitkoff should "sell Ukraine to Russia" in the context of reaching an agreement.
Volodymyr Zelensky seeks to meet with Donald Trump as soon as possible, possibly on Thanksgiving, to discuss sensitive issues of a peace agreement. Yermak said that most of the plan’s points have already been agreed.