Top Zelensky aide secretly visited Akhmetov on Aug. 31, news report says

Serhiy Shefir, the first aide to President Zelensky, conducted
a tacit visit to the suburban Kyiv mansion of billionaire Rinat Akhmetov on
Aug. 31, according to an investigative report broadcast on Oct. 8 by the Skhemy
television news program sponsored by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Shefir
left the President’s Office on Bankova Street in an Audi with a concealed
license plate and drove to a gas station in suburban Kyiv. There he exited his
vehicle and sat in a Mercedes Maybach that drove and entered the gates of
Akhmetov’s mansion. When asked what he discussed with Akhmetov, Shefir
responded, “Nothing that contradicts the interests of our country. I’m not
doing anything illegal. Period.” Meanwhile, Akhmetov’s press service didn’t
confirm or deny the meeting, instead issuing a statement highlighting the oligarch’s
UAH 300 mln donation to combat the disease in Ukraine.

In its turn, the President’s Office issued a statement
saying Zelensky hasn’t met with Akhmetov since March to discuss measures to
combat the COVID-19 disease, nor has he authorized anyone from his team to do
so. Akhmetov “is making a significant contribution to the economic and social
development of Ukraine through the enterprises he owns, which are among the
biggest payers of taxes and provide jobs for hundreds of thousands of citizens
of Ukraine. We are grateful to the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for earmarking
significant funds to combat the epidemic,” the statement said.

The Skhemy news report mentioned that the television news
on the Ukrayina network controlled by Akhmetov has been offering positive
coverage of the Zelensky administration, as determined by the detector.media
news site. This positive coverage is reflected in the frequency of news reports
on Zelensky and the tone of Savik Shuster’s talk show in which the president
participates.

Zenon Zawada: The
Zelensky-Akhmetov alliance was apparent with the emergence of the new cabinet in March.
Andriy Yermak, who was promoted to President’s Office head a few weeks earlier,
made a conscious decision to rely less upon the scandalous billionaire Ihor
Kolomoisky and introduce Akhmetov into the fold, partly to serve as a
counterbalance. This has proven to be a wise investment on Zelensky’s part as Kolomoisky’s influence may be peaking.
Moreover, there hasn’t been a Ukrainian president yet who oversaw the need to
form a tight alliance with Akhmetov.

Somehow we believe Shefir and Akhmetov had discussions
that spanned beyond COVID-19. What we’re certain about is that this political
alliance will endure the duration of Zelensky’s presidency.