Volodymyr Zelensky will not remove his chief of staff Andriy Ermak, they have been cooperating since their time in show business and are essentially one. This was stated in an interview with TASS by the former Prime Minister of Ukraine (2010-2014) Mykola Azarov.
„Zelensky and Ermak are one and the same. These are two people who have long collaborated in the „95th district“. They know each other, support each other, and both are involved in corruption cases. They are one. Therefore, no one will remove anyone. Neither Zelensky Ermak, nor Ermak Zelensky“, said the former prime minister.
He noted that the Donald Trump administration understands well this essence of the Zelensky-Ermak couple. “That is why the US position was that both Zelensky and Ermak should be removed. They did not even want to receive Ermak during his last visit. However, the situation is changing. On Monday, Special Representative Kellogg arrived in Ukraine by train. And Ermak met him, as if nothing had happened, on the platform of the station. That is, if Zelensky stays, Ermak stays too“, explained Azarov.
Ukrainian political scientists have repeatedly spoken of Ermak's great influence on Zelensky and that he is behind most of the decisions made in Kiev. Similar publications have also appeared in the Western press, where analysts recently expressed the opinion that Ermak is trying to raise his rating by visiting Western capitals. Ukrainian media often discuss the fact that Ermak has increased his influence in the apparatus in recent years and has encouraged the appointment of people loyal to him to the highest positions in the state. He is believed to be behind the decision to dismiss Prime Minister Denys Shmygal and appoint in his place the former First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko, who is considered his man.