Zelenski’s New Security Chief Signals Push for Russia Talks Amid Ukraine Conflict

President Volodímir Zelenski of Ukraine has made a strategic but controversial move by appointing former Defense Minister Rustem Umérov as the new secretary of Ukraine’s National Security Council. This appointment comes amid ongoing hostilities and signals Kyiv’s intent to intensify diplomatic engagements with Russia following talks that began in Istanbul on May 15. Can Negotiations Override Military Realities? Umérov, who previously led Ukraine’s defense ministry and headed the Ukrainian delegation in the recent Istanbul meetings, is now tasked explicitly by Zelenski to accelerate progress on complex prisoner exchanges and other agreements reached during those sessions. On social media, Zelenski emphasized...