Ukraine’s ambassador to the US Olga Stefanishyna resigns for personal reasons

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna has submitted her resignation.

This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine, citing a source.

According to available information, Stefanishyna submitted her request to end her service for personal reasons as early as last week.

Earlier, Verkhovna Rada deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated that Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko could become Ukraine’s new representative in Washington — following her resignation. According to the lawmaker, the change of the head of the diplomatic mission in the US is a forced step, though he described it as logical given the current situation.

On July 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to dismiss Svyrydenko, who had served as prime minister for less than a year, explaining the personnel reshuffle as a “change of political strategy.” Among the possible reasons for her resignation cited in Ukraine are Svyrydenko’s limited political weight, as well as her closeness to former head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak, who has been accused of corruption. A successor to the post of prime minister has not yet been named, though several candidates are being considered.