Zelenskyy’s new move gives Umerov more power than ever
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Rustem Umerov as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), a move that, despite initial assumptions of a demotion, may have significantly expanded his powers.
Zelenskyy announced the appointment on July 18, shortly after Umerov was dismissed as defense minister. Although he was previously expected to become Ukraine’s next ambassador to the United States, the NSDC appointment surprised observers and drew speculation about a quiet sidelining.
But NV spoke with lawmakers and political analysts who say the opposite is true: Umerov may now wield more influence than he did at the Defense Ministry.
According to Zelenskyy, Umerov will continue overseeing weapons procurement and production deals with foreign partners—essentially supervising all military aid supplies. He is also tasked with auditing all existing defense agreements alongside newly appointed Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, and will lead Ukraine’s negotiating track with Russia. He has reportedly already proposed a new round of talks.
Umerov will also monitor the implementation of NSDC and Commander-in-Chief Staff decisions, follow up on delayed initiatives, and strengthen Ukraine’s so-called “technological headquarters.”
Not a demotion
"This is definitely not a demotion," Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the national security committee from the ruling Servant of the People party, told NV. “In fact, Umerov now has broader powers than when he was defense minister.”
While the NSDC is technically an advisory body to the president, with no executive authority, its actual influence depends on presidential discretion.
Political analyst Ihor Reiterovych noted that despite Umerov’s controversial performance as defense minister, Zelenskyy is giving him sweeping new responsibilities.
“Now he’ll control even more than the Defense Ministry,” said Reiterovych. “This is clearly a loyalty appointment—keeping someone close in the president’s orbit.”
Still, not everyone agrees on the significance of the new role.
Opposition lawmaker Solomiia Bobrovska (Holos party) emphasized that without legal amendments, Umerov’s expanded mandate is informal at best.
“From a legal standpoint, it’s an overreach into the powers of the defense minister and other ministries,” she said.
Power without structure
The NSDC Secretary’s formal powers are mostly administrative—organizing meetings, implementing decisions, and offering recommendations to the president.
“In reality, Umerov has lost most of his formal authority and gained informal influence,” Reiterovych explained. “If Shmyhal decides to resist, he can stonewall Umerov bureaucratically. Umerov has power only because Zelenskyy says he does.”
Reiterovych criticized the appointment as a strategic error: “They want this to be a political role, but Umerov has shown he’s not up to the job. It’s about loyalty, not competence.”
Bobrovska agreed, arguing that Umerov has no clear mandate to oversee military aid.
“He’s not part of the Ramstein meetings, NATO summits, or any official channels. This appointment is meant to give him a formal title for backchannel talks.”
Still, she acknowledged Umerov’s close ties to Middle Eastern countries, particularly Türkiye, which played a key role in earlier Ukraine-Russia negotiations.
Venislavskyi also noted Umerov’s existing contacts with both Western and Eastern partners and his experience leading negotiations during the early phase of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
A trusted figure in the president’s circle
Despite criticism over his handling of the Defense Ministry, Umerov remains a close ally of Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. That proximity appears to be the main reason for his continued influence.
“He’s extremely loyal, non-confrontational, and useful for diplomacy—both because of his personality and his background,” Bobrovska said.
Reiterovych added that the appointment reflects a lack of viable alternatives.
“They just keep shuffling the same loyal people,” he said. “Bringing in outsiders would mean dealing with their principles and demands—something this administration wants to avoid.”
According to Reiterovych, Umerov’s new power stems not from qualifications, but from trust.
“This is about control over Ukraine’s massive defense budget. Yermak and his circle were never going to let it fall under someone else’s influence. Giving Umerov this position was their way of keeping it in the family.”
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