President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, as his new chief of staff. This leadership change comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end Russia's prolonged invasion. Budanov, a prominent and widely recognized wartime figure, has played a key role in expanding Ukraine's intelligence operations and has been central to the country's defense strategy since the full-scale invasion began. Zelensky emphasized that the appointment reflects a renewed focus on security, defense development, and peace negotiations, following the dismissal of the previous chief of staff amid a corruption investigation.