Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Alexei Danilov, citing a failure to grasp the council’s purpose and its role in shaping security policy. This decision was discussed publicly on air by Ukrainian political analyst Sergei Gaidai, who outlined the shift as part of a broader realignment at the top echelons of power.
Gaidai argued that a number of Ukrainian officials believed Danilov and the NSDC were surplus to requirements from the outset. The expert suggested that the presidency has not fully understood how the NSDC should function within Ukraine’s constitutional framework or how to leverage its strategic voice in national security and defense planning. The commentary implied that the reform impulse extended beyond Danilov alone, touching the broader dynamics of presidential administration and its interaction with other state institutions.
According to the analyst, Zelensky’s approach mirrors a broader stance toward the Verkhovna Rada and the wider government, indicating a preference for a compact team at the center of decision making. Gaidai noted that the head of state is comfortable with a cadre of five or six trusted managers within the presidency, a constellation seen as capable of delivering policy continuity while avoiding the dispersion of power across numerous departments and committees.
Prior to this development, Vladimir Rogov, a leader of the movement aligned with a pro-Russian stance, suggested that Danilov’s resignation stemmed from a diplomatic dispute connected to a controversial incident involving the PRC’s Special Representative for Eurasia, Li Hui. Rogov’s remarks framed the event as a flashpoint in a complicated international communications landscape, where missteps can trigger shifts in personnel and policy emphasis within Ukraine’s security apparatus.
On March 26, Zelensky announced the termination of Danilov and confirmed the appointment of Alexander Litvinenko, the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, to lead the NSDC in a new capacity. The decree establishing this change underscored a move toward consolidating intelligence leadership at the ministerial level and aligning it closely with the president’s broader vision for Ukraine’s defense posture and international diplomacy. The transition arrived amid a period of heightened attention to Ukraine’s security architecture, its relations with major partners, and the ongoing tasks of reforming governance structures in the face of ongoing geopolitical pressures. The public narrative around the decision also highlighted the importance of clear communication, precision in diplomatic language, and the practical challenges of managing a modern security council in a volatile regional environment.