Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, in an interview with the 'Ambassadors' program on Ukrainian Radio, commented on the current status of the search for a new Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. According to him, the issue remains open: a number of truly strong candidates who were offered this position publicly declined the appointment. Sybiha emphasized that the results of the US elections have nothing to do with the diplomat selection process—the determining factors are exclusively the candidate's professional and personal qualities.
Why the Post Remains Vacant
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry admitted that finding a worthy candidate for the ambassador position in Washington is an extremely difficult task. 'The President has already spoken about this publicly. Several people, truly strong candidates who were offered this post, refused. Therefore, for now, this issue remains open,' Sybiha stated. Thus, Kyiv is not rushing the process and does not intend to appoint a person to such a responsible position who does not meet the internal criteria of professionalism and personal qualities established by the ministry.
Embassy Work is Not Interrupted
The absence of a permanent head of the diplomatic mission, according to the minister, does not mean the institution's work is halted. A chargé d'affaires ad interim has been appointed to the US, and the embassy staff continues to perform their functions normally. Sybiha stressed that a 'very professional staff' of the Embassy of Ukraine in the US is working in Washington, capable of providing a full range of diplomatic tasks without the participation of a permanent ambassador.
Consular Sphere is a Priority for the Near Future
The minister placed special emphasis on the consular direction, calling it 'extremely priority and important' for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A network of general consulates of Ukraine operates on the territory of the US, and, according to Sybiha, the ministry is currently intentionally strengthening the staff of these institutions. In the near future, it is planned to finalize the appointment of heads of consular institutions abroad. In particular, the Consul General of Ukraine in New York will be appointed—a position that Sybiha called 'special' given the large number of Ukrainian delegations regularly visiting the city and the significant size of the local Ukrainian community.
Context: Who Has Already Declined and What Zelenskyy Said
Reminding of recent events in this matter provides additional context. Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly stated that Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa would be a good ambassador to the US, but Palisa himself declined the offer. This episode, along with the refusals of other candidates mentioned by Sybiha, explains why the vacancy has remained unfilled for quite some time. RBC-Ukraine has previously also published materials on who might become Ukraine's ambassador to the US and what challenges await the future diplomat under current geopolitical realities.
What's Next
According to the minister's statements, the search process has not been stopped or put on pause. The ministry continues to consider candidates while simultaneously strengthening the consular infrastructure in the United States. For Ukrainian diplomacy in Washington, this means that strategic work with American partners is being conducted continuously, and the issue of a permanent ambassador will be closed when a candidate meeting all internal criteria of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appears.
