Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday dismissed Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna – a decision that had been expected after the reshuffle of the Ukrainian government last month.
The dismissal, announced by decree, however, came at a time when Kiev is putting great pressure on Washington to provide more Patriot air defense missiles in order to stop Russian attacks.
In a Facebook post, where she also published a letter requesting to be relieved of her duties, Stefanishyna said that the decision was her own and that it was “driven by personal circumstances.”
She described her assignment in Washington as the “greatest honor” of her life.
“We increased the supply of American weapons and maintained support at the very time when the political climate in Washington was changing against us,” she added.
Stefanishyna, a former deputy prime minister and former minister of justice, was appointed ambassador to Washington in July of last year.
This post is key for Ukraine, which depends on American arms shipments and intelligence exchanges in the conflict against Russia.
Relations between Zelensky and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, have been tense and, at times, turbulent.
However, the Republican president has recently displayed a more encouraging approach towards the Ukrainian leader.
According to Ukrainian media, Stefanishyna is under investigation by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency on suspicion of corruption, although no formal indictment has been filed against her.
Zelensky, who made changes to the government in July, has not yet announced who will replace Stefanishyna as ambassador to Washington./ REL