Volodymyr Zelenskyy is changing Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, following sharp criticism from prominent Republicans, as part of a broader diplomatic reorganization aimed at improving relations with the Trump administration.
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, announced on Wednesday that Oksana Markarova will conclude her four-year term in Washington. He praised her as "highly effective, charismatic, and among Ukraine’s most accomplished ambassadors." He also mentioned that several other senior diplomats serving in G7 and G20 nations will be reassigned, stating on Ukrainian radio that "every diplomat undergoes rotation."
This shift comes at a pivotal stage in the war. Russian forces have intensified attacks along the 1,000-kilometer front, with recent advances in the east gaining momentum. A Kremlin spokesperson claimed, "We are making progress." For the first time, Russian troops are nearing an incursion into Dnipropetrovsk region.
Overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday, Russia launched its largest aerial assault since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The offensive included a record 728 Shahed drones, along with 13 cruise and ballistic missiles. The majority were intercepted.
Among Markarova’s critics is US House Speaker Mike Johnson, who accused her of favoring the Democratic Party and its candidate, Kamala Harris, ahead of last November’s presidential election.
In February, she was photographed with her head in her hands during Zelenskyy’s tense Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump. Following Zelenskyy’s visit to a Pennsylvania munitions factory in September last year—organized by Markarova without Republican representation—Johnson called for her removal.
Ukrainian officials deny any political partiality but acknowledge that the ambassador had strong ties with the Biden administration and was closely associated with Victoria Nuland, then undersecretary of state for political affairs.
Zelenskyy and Trump reportedly discussed Markarova’s replacement during a phone call last Friday, which the Ukrainian president described as their most productive to date. On Tuesday, Trump voiced increasing dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin and announced the resumption of US weapons shipments to Kyiv. The deliveries had been paused for a week, reportedly on orders from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The consignment includes Patriot interceptor missiles and other precision-guided munitions, though the exact number remains unclear. According to US outlet Axios, 10 missiles are being sent—a minimal quantity amid Moscow’s intensified strikes on Ukrainian cities.
The overnight assault targeted the northwestern city of Lutsk, while at least six civilians were killed and 39 injured in other areas, including Kharkiv and Donetsk in the northeast and east, as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south.
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