Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, has been the lead figure in nearly every major diplomatic effort since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Officials confirmed that Yermak continues to head Ukraine’s delegation in ongoing negotiations, including the most recent round of ceasefire talks held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 23, 2025. His role has expanded well beyond diplomacy, encompassing coordination of Western military aid and management of prisoner exchanges. Yermak’s influence stems directly from his long-standing partnership with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he has served since February 2020.
Background and Rise to Power
Yermak entered politics from a field far removed from statecraft. Born in Kyiv in 1971, he trained as a lawyer and later worked as a film producer. Zelenskyy appointed him head of the Office of the President in February 2020, a position that placed Yermak on the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Ukraine’s top military command body. Over time, Yermak became widely regarded as Zelenskyy’s right-hand man and a central power broker in Kyiv. In 2023, a European political publication described him as the “Green Cardinal,” a label reflecting his behind-the-scenes influence. The following year, Time magazine included Yermak on its list of the world’s most influential people. These external characterizations underscore his outsize role in Ukraine’s wartime leadership.
Since the invasion, Yermak has headed Ukraine’s delegation at the 2022 Istanbul talks, the 2023 Jeddah peace summit, and the 2025 ceasefire negotiations in Saudi Arabia. In the March 23, 2025 talks, he led the Ukrainian team alongside Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. His consistent presence at the table has made him the central figure in Kyiv’s diplomatic strategy.
Hardline Stance on Security Guarantees
Yermak is known for a firm insistence on concrete security guarantees before any ceasefire. He has consistently argued that any halt in hostilities must include NATO membership for Ukraine or binding bilateral security pacts. This position has shaped Ukraine’s negotiating posture throughout the conflict. The strategic context is clear: Ukraine seeks to leverage its deep strikes on Russian oil facilities to gain concessions at the negotiating table. Yermak’s hardline approach reflects a calculation that only ironclad security arrangements can prevent a future Russian attack.
The 2022 Istanbul talks represented an early attempt to reach a diplomatic settlement but failed to produce a ceasefire. The 2023 Jeddah peace summit brought together dozens of nations to discuss principles for ending the war. The 2025 ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia are the most recent effort to de-escalate the conflict. Western officials have expressed cautious optimism about the Jeddah talks, according to the record, but no breakthrough has been announced. Yermak’s insistence on concrete security guarantees before any ceasefire remains a key sticking point.
Russia sanctioned Yermak in 2022, a designation that reflects his prominence in Ukraine’s wartime leadership and diplomatic efforts. Despite the sanctions, he continues to operate as a key interlocutor with Western partners and as Ukraine’s lead negotiator.
Coordination of Military Aid and Prisoner Exchanges
Beyond negotiations, Yermak oversees the coordination of Western military aid, managing the flow of weapons, ammunition, and equipment from partner nations. The prisoner exchange program, which has secured the release of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, also falls under his purview. Both sides have conducted multiple swaps since 2022. This hands-on management makes Yermak one of the most consequential figures in the war. His role in the current negotiations is critical, officials confirmed, and his combination of hardline negotiating positions with operational control over aid and exchanges gives him a unique position in Ukraine’s wartime structure.
The coming months will test whether Yermak’s negotiating strategy yields results. Ukraine continues to press for NATO membership as a core security guarantee. The bilateral security pacts Yermak has championed represent an alternative path if NATO membership remains blocked. Political dynamics in partner nations could affect future deliveries of military aid. Yermak’s role in Ukraine’s diplomatic strategy appears likely to remain central as long as the conflict continues. His background as a lawyer and film producer, his rapid rise after the invasion, and his management of both negotiations and operational support have made him an indispensable figure in Kyiv’s war effort.
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