Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 17, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleZelenskiy appoints Deputy PM Stefanishyna as new US envoy to improve Ukraine-US relations amid past political tensions.
KYIV (Reuters) -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.
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.
(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, writing by Max Hunder; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Olha Stefanishyna has been appointed as Ukraine's new ambassador to the U.S. by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Before her appointment, Olha Stefanishyna served as Ukraine's minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration since 2020.
Ukraine is looking to mend its frayed ties with the U.S. following a public clash between President Zelenskiy and former President Trump.
The previous ambassador, Oksana Markarova, faced criticism from Republicans for allegedly assisting Joe Biden's campaign during the 2024 election.
The Oval Office meeting was marked by tension, particularly during a spat between Vice President J.D. Vance and President Zelenskiy, with Markarova present.
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