Zelenskiy says deputy PM Stefanishyna to become new envoy to US

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday Olha Stefanishyna, a deputy prime minister responsible for Euro-Atlantic integration, would become the country's new ambassador to the United States.

Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram that he had appointed her as the special presidential representative to the U.S. so that she could develop relations with Washington while the procedures necessary for her appointment took place.

Ukraine is seeking to mend frayed ties with the U.S. after Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump clashed publicly at the White House in February.

Stefanishyna has served as Ukraine's minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration since 2020, during which time Ukraine began its accession process to the EU.

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Ukraine's current ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, incurred the wrath of Trump's incoming administration during the 2024 election battle with his predecessor Joe Biden.

Markarova was accused by Republicans of helping Biden's Democratic Party by organising Zelenskiy's visit to a Pennsylvania ammunition factory in autumn 2024, which was attended by Democratic politicians but not by Republicans.

The incident was brought up by Vice President J.D. Vance during his spat with Zelenskiy in the disastrous Oval Office meeting, at which Markarova was present.