Ex-FM Kuleba among potential candidates for Ukraine’s US ambassador post

The position of Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States remains vacant, but several potential candidates are already being considered, including military officers, diplomats and politicians, RBC-Ukraine reported, citing its own sources.

According to the sources, Ukraine has considered Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the Office of the President, for the position. A military officer, Palisa is primarily responsible for the defence sector in the presidential office.

One argument in favour of his appointment is that U.S. President Donald Trump has referred to Palisa as his “favourite soldier” in Ukraine. However, his important role in his current position may also be a factor, and he remains alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

Various RBC-Ukraine sources within the authorities also named other potential candidates. According to an informed source, several candidates are currently being considered among military officers, diplomats and even politicians. One of them is former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

In any case, if a serving Ukrainian official, for example, someone from the Presidential Office on Bankova Street, is appointed ambassador in Washington, it would require some restructuring of the country’s diplomatic efforts, the informed source said. This factor is also being taken into account.

On Aug. 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Olha Stefanishyna as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, signing a corresponding decree.

There were subsequently reports that Zelenskyy had offered the post to former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, but that she had declined.

There was also speculation that Rustem Umerov could become Ukraine’s new ambassador to the United States. That did not happen, however, as Zelenskyy signed a decree on Aug. 3 appointing Umerov as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Reports that Pavlo Palisa could become a candidate for the ambassadorial post had also emerged several weeks earlier.

By Tamilla Hasanova