Zelenskyy says he offered Ukraine Presidential Office helm to current defense intel chief

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said he had offered Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence, the job of leading the country’s presidential office.

In a statement on US social media company X, Zelenskyy said he offered Budanov the vacant post during a meeting.

“At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of negotiations, and the Office of the President will primarily serve the fulfillment of these tasks of our state,” Zelenskyy said.

He said Budanov has “specialized experience” in these areas, as well as “sufficient strength” to deliver results.

Zelenskyy added that he also instructed Budanov to “update and submit for approval the strategic foundations of our state’s defense and development, as well as the subsequent steps,” in coordination with National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and other relevant officials and institutions.

The presidential office post has been vacant since last November, when Andriy Yermak stepped down. Zelenskyy had held multiple consultations on a successor since then.

Budanov has served as defense intelligence chief since August 2020.