Politico: Why Zelenskyy struggling to find Ukraine’s next envoy to Washington

Ukraine is struggling to find a senior figure to serve as its ambassador to the United States, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government reshuffle continues to unsettle the country's politics and the diplomatic post takes on added importance.

The vacancy followed the dismissal of Ukraine's previous envoy, Olga Stefanishyna, who was formally removed on August 3 over impending embezzlement charges.

Two former senior Ukrainian officials and four lawmakers told POLITICO that prospective candidates have been reluctant to take on the demanding role at a critical point in the war.

Zelenskyy had hoped to offer the ambassadorship to Yulia Svyrydenko, the outgoing prime minister, as part of the government reshuffle. She declined the position, according to a former senior Ukrainian official and a Republican foreign policy expert familiar with the changes.

“It is no secret that I counted on and offered Yulia Svyrydenko the post of ambassador to the United States,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference in late July. He said he was seeking a candidate with the highest possible qualifications, including “a person at the level of a deputy prime minister, minister, or prime minister.”

Other potential candidates have also been reluctant to accept the post, according to Ukrainian officials and lawmakers.

“Worrying that they would not enjoy the conditions they would need to do the job properly,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, a Ukrainian opposition lawmaker and former deputy prime minister, describing the concerns of potential candidates.

“Certainly that would be the case without having the ear of the president or his trust,” she added.

A former Ukrainian diplomat, speaking anonymously, said describing the situation as one in which nobody wanted the job would be too simplistic.

“Of course, there are people who want the job, but there’s no one who really measures up to it. Zelenskyy is having a hard time filling the position.”

The difficulty comes as Zelenskyy's broader government reshuffle faces political criticism. His approval ratings have deteriorated since the shake-up began, while more than 55% of Ukrainians surveyed by the Socis Center for Social Research said the country was moving in the wrong direction.

The dismissal in July of popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov also sparked street protests and a political backlash, while several senior government positions remain unresolved.

“No one has explained to Ukrainians why exactly the government had to be changed,” opposition lawmaker Mykola Knyazhitskiy said.

“There had been no clearly articulated public complaints about Svyrydenko. In her farewell address to parliament, Svyrydenko received applause. MPs gave her a standing ovation. So why was she dismissed if her performance was considered so successful and was so highly regarded?”

The ambassadorial vacancy is particularly significant because Washington remains central to Ukraine's ability to sustain its war effort. The next envoy will have to deal with a Trump administration whose position on military support and the timing and terms of ending the war have shifted repeatedly.

Stefanishyna previously described the experience of serving in Washington as “diplomatic whiplash”.

Kyiv is also seeking U.S. backing for the production of Patriot air defence systems in Ukraine, an issue that has become more urgent as the country prepares for another winter of Russian attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure.

At the same time, there are signs that Washington could seek to revive stalled peace negotiations. That could increase the importance of an ambassador with sufficient political influence to gain access to the White House, speak for Zelenskyy and work with Congress.

Leaving the post vacant could therefore leave Kyiv without a senior diplomatic operator in Washington while decisions are being made on weapons, air defence, logistics, intelligence sharing and any renewed peace effort.

“It is quite likely that Zelenskyy won’t appoint anyone this side of the midterm elections in the United States,” opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Yurchyshyn said. “It will be hard to judge who would fit the political landscape best until those elections have been held.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev