Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly confirmed that Kyiv has already drawn up a shortlist of candidates for the head of the diplomatic mission in Washington, but the final appointment decision will only be made after detailed reports are received from the security and law enforcement agencies. The head of state made this remark while speaking with journalists, emphasizing that filling the vacancy in the US is one of the priorities on his current agenda. According to him, the previous working day was entirely devoted to personnel decisions, including meetings with the heads of key security and law enforcement bodies.
The Washington Vacancy and Its Significance
Zelensky called the appointment of a new ambassador to the US "critically important" against the backdrop of two interconnected processes: unblocking the negotiation track and meeting Ukraine's needs for Patriot air defense systems. That is why, in the president's words, the choice of candidate cannot be a formal one: "It is very important not to make a mistake here." In this context, the vacancy at the head of the diplomatic mission in Washington carries not only diplomatic but also military-political significance, as the embassy's work directly affects the logistics of weapons deliveries and coordination with allies.
Vetting the Candidates: The Role of the SBU and NAB
The president clarified that he is not yet disclosing the names of specific applicants. "There are candidates; I won't say yet who they are, but first I need to receive a detailed report, and not only from the SBU but also from the NAB. I am waiting for this additional information and we will make a decision," Zelensky stated. Thus, the vetting procedure goes beyond standard diplomatic practice: alongside the intelligence service, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau is involved in the checks, indicating heightened requirements for the impeccable background of the future ambassador.
The President's Personnel Day
According to Zelensky, the day before he held a series of meetings devoted to personnel matters. These included consultations with SBU Head Oleksandr Poklad, Head of the GUR (Main Directorate of Intelligence) Oleh Ivanov, and Head of the "South" Operational Command Kyrylo Budanov. He then held talks with the heads of the NAB and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, as well as a "fairly long meeting" with the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. As a result of that meeting, the president reported, the Prosecutor General drafted the relevant statement, and the recommendation will be sent to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Comment on Mykhailo Fedorov
In response to journalists' questions about former minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Zelensky said that he had not seen or heard from him for a long time. "I know he was somewhere abroad. And, as they say, 'he doesn't call, he doesn't write'," the head of state noted. This statement came amid an ongoing discussion about the role and status of several former members of the government in the country's current political life.
Challenges for the Future Ambassador
As RBC-Ukraine notes, last month Zelensky dismissed the incumbent Ukrainian ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, which is what created the current vacancy. The new head of the diplomatic mission will therefore have to immediately get to work on two key fronts — sustaining the negotiation process and ensuring deliveries of Patriot air defense systems. The timing of the appointment is, in effect, determined by the speed at which the SBU and NAB prepare their reports, which the president called a necessary condition for making the final decision.
