Zelensky Sacks Ukraine Ambassador To US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday dismissed his ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, in a move that had been expected following a government reshuffle last month.

In a Facebook post in which she also posted a letter asking to be relieved of her duties, Stefanishyna said the decision was her own and “dictated by personal circumstances”.

She called her posting to Washington “the greatest honour” of her life.

Stefanishyna, a former deputy prime minister and justice minister, was nominated as ambassador in July last year.

The role is crucial for Ukraine, which depends on US arms deliveries and intelligence-sharing in the conflict against Russia.

But the billionaire Republican former real estate mogul has recently been more encouraging towards the Ukrainian leader.

According to Ukrainian media, Stefanishyna is under investigation by the country’s anti-corruption agency on suspicion of wrongdoing, although she has not been formally accused.

Zelensky, who made a controversial government reshuffle in July, has not yet announced who will replace Stefanishyna as ambassador in Washington.