Zelensky's top Biden adviser resigns after Ukrainian anti-corruption raid on his home

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his chief of staff, Andriy 
Yermak, has resigned following an anti-corruption raid on his home.

Yermak, a towering figure with enormous political influence, has been 
Zelensky's closest adviser throughout Russia's full-scale war, but has 
come under increasing pressure over an escalating scandal - even though he 
is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Zelensky had recently appointed him to head crucial negotiations, with US 
President Donald Trump leading a new drive to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

In a stark address to the nation outside his presidential office, Zelensky 
called for unity, warning: "We risk losing everything: ourselves, Ukraine, 
our future."

The corruption scandal has rocked Ukraine for weeks, weakening Zelensky's 
own position and jeopardising the country's negotiating position with the 
US at a delicate time.

Ukraine, backed by its European allies, has sought to change the terms of 
a US-led draft peace plan originally seen as heavily slanted towards 
Russia.

Early on Friday Ukraine's two anti-corruption agencies raided Yermak's 
apartment in Kyiv's government quarters and the chief of staff said on 
social media that "from my side there is full co-operation".

"I'm grateful to Andriy that Ukraine's position on the negotiating track 
was always presented as required: it was always a patriotic position," 
Ukraine's president said during his video address in Kyiv.

Zelensky said he would start consultations on Saturday on who would 
replace Yermak as his top adviser: "When all the attention is focused on 
diplomacy and the defence in a war, inner strength is required."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg9nd2wddno