Zelenskyy taps ambassador to UK for key IMO role amid Black Sea security push

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Valerii Zaluzhnyi as Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will assume the new role while continuing to serve as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Caliber.Az reports, citing a statement released by the president’s press service.

“To appoint the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Valerii Fedorovych Zaluzhnyi, as Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) concurrently,” the press statement reads.

The appointment marks another career transition for Zaluzhnyi, who was relieved of his duties as Ukraine’s top military commander in early 2024 and subsequently appointed as ambassador to the UK. His new role at the IMO comes amid Ukraine’s continued efforts to secure maritime security and protect its interests in the Black Sea region.

The International Maritime Organization, a specialized UN agency, is responsible for regulating shipping and ensuring maritime safety worldwide. Given Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia and the strategic importance of its access to the Black Sea, Zaluzhnyi’s dual diplomatic roles could play a crucial part in advancing Kyiv’s maritime security agenda on the international stage.

By Khagan Isayev