Zelenskyy is struggling to find a new Ukrainian ambassador to the US after Stefanishyna’s dismissal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is currently struggling to find a new Ukrainian ambassador to the United States following the dismissal of Olha Stefanishyna.

Politico writes about this.

Zelenskyy initially considered former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko for the position, but she declined. In late July, the president confirmed that he had offered her the position of head of the Ukrainian embassy in Washington.

Zelensky emphasized that he would like to see a highly qualified representative at the level of deputy prime minister, minister, or prime minister in this position.

According to Politico’s sources, finding a suitable candidate has proven difficult since Sviridenko’s refusal. Potential candidates are reportedly concerned about the challenging working conditions in Washington and the need to interact with the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and MP Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze suggested that influential Ukrainian politicians may be reluctant to take the post due to concerns about a lack of freedom of action.

At the same time, the former Ukrainian diplomat noted that there are those willing to take the position, but there are few suitable candidates.

The ambassador’s prolonged absence from the United States could create additional problems for Ukraine, especially given Washington’s potential decisions regarding arms supplies, air defense systems, intelligence sharing, and the terms of upcoming peace talks.

At the same time, MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn did not rule out that Zelenskyy could postpone the appointment of a new ambassador until after the midterm elections in the US, as the political balance in Washington could shift after them.