Ukraine mulls new US ambassador amid fallout with Trump team
Photo: (Getty Images)
Ukrainian authorities are considering possible options for replacing Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova. She has not established a relationship with the new administration of Donald Trump, stated in an RBC-Ukraine article, "Zelenskyy’s next big decision. Is it time for major government shake-up?"
One of the options discussed at Bankova Street was appointing Defense Minister Rustem Umerov as ambassador to the US, since he has a positive image with the new American administration. However, they decided to abandon this idea.
"At first, the plan was to send Umerov to replace Markarova – he’s perceived very positively by the current Trump team. On the other hand, that advantage is also needed in his current position. So, as I understand it, they’ve decided to abandon that idea," a source in the government team explained.
Now, according to RBC‑Ukraine, another option is being considered at Bankova—sending the current Minister of Culture, Mykola Tochytskyi, as ambassador to the US.
According to RBC-Ukraine, Tochytskyi "allegedly would not mind returning to diplomatic service."
No official decisions have been announced yet, but sources say that updating the embassy team in the US is only a matter of time.
What is known about Markarova
Oksana Markarova has been Ukraine’s ambassador to the US since 2021.
She was appointed on February 25 by decree of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Before that, Markarova was Ukraine’s Finance Minister and had extensive experience in financial policy.
As RBC‑Ukraine reported, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba personally proposed her candidacy as head of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Washington.
Previously, US House Speaker Mike Johnson sent a letter to President Zelenskyy demanding that the Ukrainian ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, be replaced.
