Zelensky replaces Ukraine ambassador to the U.S. after phone call with Trump, aiming to ease tensions as arms delays and cabinet reshuffle loom
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly agreed to replace Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, following a recent phone call with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
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According to a report by the Financial Times on Tuesday, both sides are now engaged in discussions over possible successors.
Any nominee would require approval from Kyiv and Washington.
Zelensky replaces Ukraine ambassador amid a sensitive period in U.S.-Ukraine relations. Arms deliveries previously approved by Washington remain withheld, even as Russia
continues intense missile and drone attacks more than three years into its full-scale invasion.
Markarova, who has served as Ukraine’s envoy in Washington since 2021, has faced criticism from some Republicans for allegedly being too closely aligned with the Democratic Party.
Her departure could be seen as an effort to build bridges with Trump, particularly as U.S. military aid stalls and domestic political scrutiny over Ukraine grows.
The Financial Times reported that Zelensky is expected to announce her replacement next week as part of a wider cabinet reshuffle.
A senior Ukrainian official told the publication that the president is seeking a candidate who is a “good dealmaker” and able to communicate effectively with both the White House and Congress.
The shortlist reportedly includes Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
Former EU diplomat Balázs Jarábik commented that the personnel changes seem intended to manage mounting political, economic and social pressures through renewal and control, rather than signalling a policy shift.
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Since the war began, Zelensky has reshuffled his cabinet multiple times, often to respond to battlefield demands and shifts in international support.
