Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed Olha Stefanishyna as Ukraine's Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the United States. The dismissal was set out in decree No. 696/2026, published on August 3.
There is currently no word on who will replace Stefanishyna in the post. Last week she took part in talks between the presidents of Ukraine and the United States.
In a Facebook post, Stefanishyna called the end of her work in Washington her own decision, driven by personal circumstances. She said representing Ukraine in Washington while it fought a war for its existence had been the greatest honor of her life, just as it had been an honor to open Ukraine's path to the European Union as deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and to advance justice reforms as minister of justice. She thanked the Ukrainian president for his trust and the opportunities given to her.
Earlier remarks on air defense
In May 2026, Stefanishyna told Radio Svoboda that Ukraine's ability to counter ballistic missiles depended critically on the United States. She said Ukraine was ready to help fund additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles, adding that Ukraine could definitely pay for it.
On May 26, Zelensky sent a five-page letter to the White House and Capitol Hill, writing that strengthening air defense could change Moscow's calculations and create room for diplomacy.
