Stefanishyna Named Requirements for Future Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S.

Former Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna said the future Ukrainian ambassador in Washington should have access to the American administration, speak flawless English, and be respected within U.S. political circles. At the same time, the diplomat warned against appointing someone with excessive political ambitions. Stefanishyna said this in an interview with Hlavkom.

According to the former ambassador, the question of appointing a new head of Ukraine’s diplomatic mission in Washington has not only a foreign-policy dimension but also a domestic-political one. President Volodymyr Zelensky must take into account how society and the expert community will perceive a potential candidate.

“I think there are quite a few worthy candidates, but the question of who will be ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S. is, to some extent, our domestic-political issue. When the president chooses this person, he also has to look at how it will be perceived in the media and publicly in our country. Because we have a bunch of experts and pseudo-experts who will discuss it, so the president’s room to maneuver is somewhat limited,” Stefanishyna explained.

She believes the key criterion for the future ambassador should be the ability to establish direct communication with members of Donald Trump’s administration.

“In my view, the next ambassador should be someone who can gain access to the American administration. Whether that person should be publicly active—that is for the president to decide,” the diplomat said.

Stefanishyna recalled that during her tenure the main priorities were an active Ukrainian presence in the American media space and establishing contacts with the president’s close circle. At the same time, she suggested that Zelensky might set different tasks for her successor.

Separately, the former ambassador drew attention to the consequences of a prolonged absence of a head of the diplomatic mission. In her view, this weakens Ukraine’s ability to influence Washington’s decisions precisely at a time when relations between the two countries are going through a difficult period.

“As far as I know, there is no single agreed-upon candidate at the moment. And in conditions where rhetoric from the U.S. toward Ukraine is harsh and the threats are serious, the American side only benefits from the absence of our ambassador in Washington. Quite simply, there is no one to demand meetings with American top officials. Yes, an ambassador can be refused, but that refusal is recorded and noted in reports. The level of both public and private communication falls significantly, access to people who can influence the situation becomes much more difficult. Occasional meetings are not the building of relations; our American partners need to understand who they will be working with,” she emphasized.

Speaking about the personal and professional qualities of the future ambassador, Stefanishyna noted that diplomatic work in Washington requires a much broader circle of contacts than just representatives of the White House.

“I would not set any strict limits. But I think it is very important that there be no questions about this person’s political ambitions or jealousies. Because around anyone who goes to America, conspiracy theories immediately start to be built,” the former ambassador explained.

She also stressed that the future diplomat must have an appropriate reputation and be ready for daily work with various representatives of the American political environment.

“The future ambassador must be resistant to star syndrome, must communicate flawlessly in English, and must be respected. Washington is not only the White House and the Oval Office; you have to work every day with a very large number of different people. Accordingly, it must be someone who already has a positive track record or achievements, and not necessarily in the diplomatic field,” Stefanishyna said.

During the interview she also commented on the possibility of appointing former prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk as Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. The diplomat gave a positive assessment of his professional and personal qualities.

“Arseniy Petrovych impressed me when he was prime minister, and he still does now. I think he is a very wise person and will no longer trade off for some ratings or the like. He wants to continue to serve the country and save it. So if his candidacy is indeed being considered, that would be good,” she said.

At the same time, 27 in October Volodymyr Zelensky told Hlavkom he did not confirm information about considering Yatsenyuk’s candidacy for the post of Ukraine’s ambassador in Washington.

Stefanishyna also allowed for the possibility of using a model in which the future head of the diplomatic mission would initially serve as a special envoy for cooperation with the United States. A similar mechanism was used when she was appointed.

According to the former ambassador, such a position could help coordinate the work of Ukrainian state institutions, diplomats, parliament, and representatives of the non-governmental sector who work on developing relations with the United States.

She emphasized that Ukraine already has significant diplomatic and political resources for working with Washington but needs more effective management of those resources.

Recall that Olga Stefanishyna left the post of Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. in early August 2026 due to personal circumstances. Since then Ukraine’s diplomatic mission in Washington has remained without a head. Among the possible candidates for the post were named Dmytro Kuleba, Rustem Umerov, Yuliia Svyrydenko, Pavlo Palisa, and Arseniy Yatsenyuk. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelensky 27 in October did not confirm information about a possible appointment of Yatsenyuk.