Markarova recalled from Washington: whom will Zelensky appoint instead?
10 July 21:36
On July 10, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his intention to replace Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova. According to him, the decision was made after consultations and will be implemented as part of a wider rotation of Ukrainian diplomats in the G7 and G20 countries, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing the FT.
Zelenskyy thanked Markarova for her work and said that he sees her continuing to serve in the Ukrainian civil service. The recall of the diplomat has not yet been formally announced, but the process has already begun.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga also confirmed that the decision to change ambassadors concerns at least 20 diplomatic posts, and the preparation of the relevant decrees is already underway.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is said to be one of the most likely candidates for the post of ambassador to the United States. His potential appointment, according to sources, is in line with Ukraine’s new focus on strengthening military and diplomatic relations with the United States.
Zelenskyy himself does not rule out such a scenario, noting that the position of Kyiv’s official diplomatic representative in the United States requires a figure capable of influencing decisions in Washington and engaging in strategic dialogue on arms, support for the army, and future security arrangements.
Other candidates are also being discussed in the media:
- prime Minister Denys Shmyhal;
- deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Olha Stefanyshyna;
- minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko;
- deputy Head of the OP Ihor Zhovkva;
- minister of Culture Mykola Tochytskyi.
However, there is no favorite among them yet.
Read also: Tochytskyi, Kyslytsia, Umerov: who is being prepared to replace Markarova
It should be noted that the decision to replace the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States was already partially discussed on July 4 during a telephone conversation between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump. According to Western media, it was during this conversation that the Ukrainian side outlined its vision of a new configuration of cooperation and representation in Washington. After that, consultations with American diplomats on potential candidates began.
We remind you that Oksana Markarova has been Ambassador since February 2021. During this time, she has played an important role in mobilizing US political, financial, and military support for Ukraine in the context of a full-scale war. As the US elections and changes in global geopolitics approach, Kyiv is looking for a new model of representation that can meet current challenges and work effectively with both the administration and Congress.
It is expected that the official decision to change the ambassador will be announced in due course. The president’s team emphasizes that the “reshuffle” is not a gesture of distrust in Markarova personally, but part of a planned diplomatic rotation aimed at updating approaches and strengthening the political weight of Ukrainian diplomats in key capitals.
Read also: Sibiga announces change of ambassadors to G7 and G20 countries, including the US
How Oksana Markarova is remembered in diplomatic circles
The former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States has twice been involved in high-profile scandals.
In September 2024, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to recall Markarova. The reason was Zelenskyy’s visit to an ammunition plant in Pennsylvania, organized by the diplomat.
Johnson said that Ukrainian Ambassador Markarova allegedly organized a “partisan campaign” because no Republicans were invited to the event. He is convinced that this was done intentionally, and the tour itself, according to the speaker, was allegedly a “campaign event designed to help Democrats.“
This short-sighted and deliberately political move has caused Republicans to lose confidence in Ambassador Markarova’s ability to perform her diplomatic functions in this country honestly and effectively. She should be immediately dismissed from her post. In addition, as I have made clear in the past, all foreign nations should avoid expressing their opinions or interfering in U.S. domestic politics,” Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelensky.
At the end of February 2025, during a press briefing in the Oval Office of the White House, Oksana Markarova was noticed in a rather awkward position: amid a heated discussion between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the ambassador put her hand to her face and lowered her head. Images of this moment were circulated by the media, emphasizing the tension between the leaders and diplomatic representatives.
For a broader context, it is worth noting that, despite the criticism, Markarova actively participated in major American media outlets. For example, in a high-profile interview on CBS News’ Face the Nation on May 4, 2025, she emphasized the strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine. She also commented on the intense drone attacks on civilian targets, emphasizing the devastating impact on the population.
Thus, replacing the ambassador to the United States is only the tip of the iceberg. The key task is to develop an effective foreign strategy that will be able to meet the challenges of the new geopolitical reality. The candidacy of the new ambassador is certainly important, but the most important thing is the state’s ability to systematically and persistently promote its interests at the highest level.
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