# Exclusive: Zelensky’s ex-chief of staff Yermak ran ‘troubling’ back-channel with Trump’s Susie Wiles

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/exclusive-zelenskys-ex-chief-of-staff-yermak-ran-troubling-back-channel-with-trumps-susie-wiles/
- Published: 2026-11-10T14:57:20+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T20:57:09+00:00
- Original publisher: Kyiv Independent
- Original article: https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-zelenskys-ex-chief-of-staff-yermak-ran-troubling-back-channel-with-trumps-susie-wiles-2/
- Topics: Europe, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Yermak and Wiles had frequent private contact from early 2025.
- Officials say he mistook polite replies for firm commitments.
- The channel reportedly complicated Ukraine’s ties with Trump’s team.

## Summary

Ukraine’s former presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak held frequent private communications with US Chief of Staff Susie Wiles after Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Ukrainian and US officials told the Kyiv Independent that the channel often caused problems because Yermak treated polite, non-committal replies as firm promises and reported them to President Volodymyr Zelensky as achievements.

Officials said the misunderstandings strained Ukraine’s dealings with the Trump administration and contributed to Yermak misreading the White House before the Oval Office confrontation. A US administration source also alleged Yermak sidelined envoy Keith Kellogg to build ties with Steve Witkoff as corruption allegations emerged. The contacts reportedly continued until Yermak resigned after anti-corruption investigators raided his home in November 2025; Wiles later left her post after the Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.