Political scientist outlines two response options to Speaker Johnson's demands to dismiss Ambassador Markarova
Photo: Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the US (Getty Images)
Ukraine needs to comply with the demands of US House Speaker Mike Johnson to dismiss Ambassador Oksana Markarova. There are two other options for responding to the scandal, states Volodymyr Fesenko, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Applied Political Studies Penta, in a comment to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
The expert noted that if Ukraine decides to dismiss Markarova from her position as ambassador to the US, it would be seen as a sign of weakness, as the country should defend its ambassadors.
"We are not only admitting Markarova's guilt in this way, but we are also acknowledging our weakness and conceding that the Republicans are right," Fesenko clarified.
In his opinion, there are currently two options for responding to the situation with Markarova.
The first option is to establish contact with Republicans and Democrats who will be part of the commission investigating the visit of the Ukrainian delegation to the defense plant. This way, Ukraine can demonstrate its interest in the investigation while also being prepared to respond to any allegations.
The second option involves resolving the conflict, although it will leave a bitter aftertaste. However, there can still be a way out of such a situation.
Fesenko recalled that during Andrii Melnyk's tenure as Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, there were unpleasant incidents involving him. He was reassigned not as a punishment but simply because his term in the country had expired.
"Markarova's term in the US is also coming to an end. She can stay longer, but after the US elections, there will be an opportunity to change ambassadors. This would be a way to resolve this situation," he added.
What preceded
Previously, US House Speaker Mike Johnson sent a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanding the dismissal of Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova.
According to Johnson, Markarova "organized a visit to an American industrial facility" this week, during which "no Republicans were intentionally invited."
This refers to the visit of the Ukrainian delegation to an ammunition manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, where Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
