---
title: "Sybiha: Several Strong Candidates Declined the Post of Ukrainian Ambassador to the US — Search Continues"
description: "Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that the search for a new US ambassador continues as several strong candidates turned down the offer. The diplomatic mission's work is uninterrupted, and the consular network is being reinforced."
date: 2026-11-06T21:03:47.305Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sybiha-search-for-ukrainian-ambassador-to-us-continues
tags: [ukraine-us-relations, diplomacy, ambassador, foreign-policy, consular-services, andriy-sybiha]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Sybiha: Several Strong Candidates Declined the Post of Ukrainian Ambassador to the US — Search Continues

![Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha speaks at a briefing in front of the state flag of Ukraine](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/06/sibiga-poisk-posla-ukrainy-v-ssha-prodolzhaetsya/sibiga-poisk-posla-ukrainy-v-ssha-prodolzhaetsya-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha confirmed that the search for a new US ambassador is ongoing and the issue remains open.
- Several strong candidates offered the post publicly declined the appointment.
- US election results do not affect the diplomat selection process; professional and personal qualities are key.
- Embassy work is not interrupted: a chargé d'affaires has been appointed, and staff operates normally.
- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is strengthening the consular network in the US and will soon appoint a consul general in New York.

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.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Сильные кандидаты отказываются: Сибига объяснил, почему Украина до сих пор без посла в США](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/silni-kandidati-vidmovlyayutsya-sibiga-poyasniv-1793998395.html) - Direct interview of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the 'Ambassadors' program on Ukrainian Radio. All quotes and facts in the article are taken from this source. No discrepancies with other sources were found.

## FAQ

### Why hasn't Ukraine appointed an ambassador to the US yet?

According to Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, several truly strong candidates offered the position declined the appointment. The issue remains open because the ministry does not intend to appoint a candidate who does not meet the criteria of professionalism and personal qualities.

### Does the absence of an ambassador affect the work of the Ukrainian Embassy in the US?

No. A chargé d'affaires ad interim has been appointed to the US, and the embassy staff continues to perform their duties normally. Sybiha emphasized that a very professional staff works in Washington.

### Do US election results matter for the appointment of the Ukrainian ambassador?

Minister Sybiha explicitly stated that US election results have nothing to do with the appointment of the diplomat. The determining factors are the candidate's professional and personal qualities.

### What are the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's plans regarding the consular network in the US?

The ministry is strengthening the staff of general consulates in the US and plans to finalize the appointment of heads of consular institutions abroad in the near future. In particular, the Consul General of Ukraine in New York will be appointed.