Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to replace Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, in a move widely seen as an effort to ease tensions with former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
According to the UK-based publication, the decision came during a recent phone call between Zelensky and Trump, with both sides now engaged in discussions over possible successors. Any new appointee will require approval from both Kyiv and Washington.
Markarova, who has served as Ukraine’s envoy in Washington since 2021, has faced growing criticism from some Republicans for her perceived closeness to the Democratic Party. Her removal appears aimed at recalibrating Kyiv’s relationship with Washington as U.S. political dynamics shift ahead of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
The report suggests that Zelensky is expected to announce her replacement next week as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle, the latest in a series of high-level changes since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Strategic Recalibration Amid War Pressure
A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that Zelensky seeks an ambassador who is not only “a good dealmaker” but also someone “understandable to both the White House and Congress.”
Among the potential candidates reportedly under consideration are Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, both of whom have played key roles in Ukraine’s wartime diplomacy and defence efforts.
The diplomatic change comes at a delicate moment for Kyiv. The United States recently withheld a tranche of approved arms shipments, even as Russian forces intensify missile and drone attacks deep inside Ukrainian territory. Zelensky’s government is under increasing pressure to maintain the support of both American political parties amid shifting global alliances.
Former EU diplomat Balázs Jarábik told the newspaper the move reflects Zelensky’s broader strategy of managing political, economic, and societal pressures through “renewal and control,” rather than through radical policy shifts.
Markarova’s expected exit underscores the importance of optics and alignment in international diplomacy — especially as Ukraine continues to fight for military aid, political backing, and a stable future amid a grinding war.
