• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appoints Rustem Umerov, former chief negotiator, as head of the foreign intelligence service, responsible for negotiations with Russia under US mediation.
• Umerov, previously serving as defence minister and secretary of the National Security Council, will also coordinate the export of Ukrainian drones and their integration into other countries' defence systems.
• Zelensky appoints former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as the new secretary of the National Security Council, amidst protests in Ukraine against controversial staffing changes, with plans to appoint Yevchen Khmara as the new defence minister pending parliamentary confirmation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed chief negotiator Rustem Umerov as the new head of the foreign intelligence service.

Umerov, who had previously served as defence minister among other roles, will remain responsible in his new role for the negotiations with Russia, which were most recently conducted under US mediation, Zelensky announced on Monday.

Umerov, who was most recently secretary of the National Security Council, is also to coordinate the export of Ukrainian drones and their integration into the defence systems of other countries, Zelensky said during a meeting with diplomats.

According to the report, contracts are now in place with nine countries, with further agreements planned.

The post of head of foreign intelligence had been filled on an acting basis for months. Zelensky appointed former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as the new secretary of the National Security Council, following a government reshuffle that were was with protests in Ukraine.

Klymenko had at one time been mooted as a successor to popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose dismissal sparked demonstrations in Kiev.

Protests have been taking place in Ukraine for several weeks against President Zelensky's controversial staffing changes.

The president intends to appoint Yevchen Khmara, the current acting head of the SBU security service, as the new defence minister. For his appointment to take effect, Zelensky must still submit his nomination to parliament and have it confirmed by parliament.