KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday resisted calls to oust his most powerful adviser, Andriy Yermak, amid a snowballing corruption scandal. 

Earlier this week, members of Zelenskyy’s own party, opposition lawmakers and pro-democracy watchdogs pressured the president to fire Yermak, though anti-corruption agencies have not said the influential aide is implicated in a $100 million kickbacks plot in the Ukrainian energy sector. 

Zelenskyy met with his parliamentary party late Thursday and made it clear he won’t bend, according to one attendee at the meeting. 

“Regarding Yermak, the president clearly said that personnel issues in his office are his business,” a Ukrainian MP from Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People faction, granted anonymity to speak candidly, told POLITICO.

The internal tug-of-war comes as Russia and some U.S. officials are once again pressuring Kyiv to agree to a so-called peace plan, which appears to favor Kremlin demands — though during a discussion with several reporters in Kyiv, American officials claimed the plan is comprehensive and does not amount to Ukraine’s capitulation to Russia. 

“We are here to support the Ukrainians like we have been throughout this conflict, and we’re here to make sure that this is a good plan for the Ukrainian people,” U.S. Army spokesperson Col. Dave Buttler said.

After the parliamentary meeting, Zelenskyy made a statement to the nation late Thursday.

“I was at a meeting with the parliamentary majority faction, there were various issues, there were sensitive issues,” the president said, without specifying Yermak was the issue.

“But the agreement, it is obvious — everyone must work for Ukraine, and it will be so. The wartime parliament must be functioning. And I thank everyone who helps ensure this. And there will be decisions that will help with this,” Zelenskyy added.

This story is being updated.