Zelensky names outgoing justice minister as Ukraine's US envoy
'I have signed a decree appointing Olga Stefanishyna as the Special Representative of the President of Ukraine for the Development of Cooperation with the United States,' Zelenskyy said on social media.
'All the necessary procedures for approving her candidacy with Washington as Ukraine's ambassador to the United States are underway.'
Stefanishyna would be taking over from Oksana Markarova, who faced accusations from leading US Republicans that she sided with the Democratic Party.
'She had very good contacts with the Biden administration,' political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told AFP of Markarova, adding that this led to some problems when Trump took office.
Stefanishyna took part in finalizing a natural resources deal with the United States.
Zelenskyy said she would 'continue to work with the United States on this basis -- adding mutually beneficial economic substance to our political and diplomatic interaction.'
Stefanishyna's nomination is a surprise turn. Zelenskyy had indicated that outgoing defense minister Rustem Umerov, who had taken part in negotiations with Russia, could be the next US ambassador.
'Approval had to be obtained from Washington. And they didn't get it there,' lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, said on social media.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
27 minutes ago
- Arab News
‘A free Ukraine': Kyiv protests law threatening anti-corruption bodies
KYIV, Ukraine: At a rare protest in central Kyiv demonstrators rallied Wednesday against a law that curbs the power of anti-corruption agencies, warning the fight for Ukraine's democracy was taking place both on the battlefield and at home. The legislation, removing the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies, sparked the first major protests in Ukraine since it began fighting off the Russian invasion over three years ago. 'Our struggle takes place on two fronts. Our main enemy is external, but we have an internal battle too,' said protester Viacheslav Bykov. 'We don't want Ukraine to be part of Russia, we don't want a corrupt or authoritarian Ukraine. We want a free Ukraine,' he added. Several thousand demonstrators — mostly young — gathered outside a theater in Kyiv, calling for a veto to the law passed by Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday. The law places the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the direct authority of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president. Critics say the legislation would facilitate presidential interference in corruption probes and threatens the independence of key institutions in Ukraine. European Commission weighs in Zelensky responded to the backlash on Wednesday evening, saying he would submit a new bill ensuring 'all norms for the independence of anti-corruption institutions will be in place.' Kyiv's partners had reacted with alarm, including European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, who the EU said demanded explanations from Zelensky over the change. Civil society groups warn the bill is part of a broader pattern of pressure on anti-corruption activists and bodies. Some European allies worry the moves will undermine anti-corruption reforms key to Ukraine's bid to join the European Union — a fear shared by many protesting on Wednesday. 'We've worked for years to move closer to Europe... only to be thrown back 10 years in a single day,' said protester Anya Kutsevol. Ukraine's two anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, were born a decade ago in the wake of the 2014 Maidan revolution. Those pro-European protests, centered on Kyiv's main square, also called Maidan, ousted a Kremlin-backed leader who scrapped a key partnership agreement with the EU. The Kremlin, which refused to accept Ukraine's democratic turn toward Europe, then launched a first assault over Ukraine that led Moscow-backed separatists to occupy Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region. 'Ukraine is Europe,' Kutsevol said, 'we won't be returned to Russia. We'll keep fighting for Europe.' 'Undermining unity' Some fear that a political crisis over the legislation could work in Russia's favor by undermining unity within the country, which is struggling to hold the front. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov seized on the opportunity to say there was 'a lot of corruption' in Ukraine. 'If I were Russia, I would do the same,' said another protester, Yevgen Popovychenko, convinced Moscow would try to exploit the protests. He was holding a banner that read: 'Don't take me back' to the years of Maidan, where he took to the streets as a 21-year-old. As he stood in the crowd, he said he was having flashbacks from Maidan, a feeling shared by his friends. But many other protesters were only children during the famed 2014 demonstrations — including 25-year-old Kutsevol. 'When tires were still burning, I was 14. What good was I?' she said. Wednesday's was her first political protest, and she teared up looking at people gathered around her for the second day in a row, despite martial law banning large gatherings. She vowed to keep defending Ukraine's democracy. 'We're adults now. Now it's our turn.'
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
US approves $322 million in arms sales to Ukraine
The United States on Wednesday announced the approval of $322 million in arms sales to bolster Ukraine's air defenses and its armored combat vehicles. The announcement of the sales comes after Washington temporarily halted some weapons shipments to Ukraine earlier this month even as Kyiv faced heavy Russian missile and drone attacks. The sale of HAWK air defense equipment and sustainment will cost up to $172 million, while Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle equipment and services will total up to $150 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said. The proposed HAWK equipment sale 'will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability,' DSCA said. And the Bradley equipment and services will help meet Ukraine's 'urgent need to strengthen local sustainment capabilities to maintain high operational rates for United States provided vehicles and weapon systems,' it said. The State Department approved the possible sales and the DSCA provided the required notification to the US Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transactions. The latest proposed military sale to Ukraine follows another announced in early May valued at $310.5 million for F-16 training and sustainment. Russia's President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022 and has shown little willingness to end the conflict despite pressure from the United States. Under former president Joe Biden, Washington committed to providing more than $65 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. But President Donald Trump – long skeptical of assistance for Ukraine – has not followed suit, announcing no new military aid packages for Kyiv since he returned to office in January.
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Gaza starvation crisis and Russia-Ukraine talks
In this episode of W News Extra, presented by Jono Hayes, we discuss the ongoing starvation crisis in Gaza, the latest peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and why Barack Obama has called President Donald Trump 'ridiculous.'
