Zelenskiy names new ambassadors during Ukraine political shakeup
FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Olha Stefanishyna attend a bilateral meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance (not pictured), on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), in Munich, Germany February 14, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointed over a dozen new ambassadors on Monday, during a big shakeup that has seen him replace top cabinet officials and envoys to shore up relations with Washington and isolate Russia internationally.
The new envoys named on Monday include ambassadors to NATO members Belgium, Canada, Estonia and Spain, as well as major donor Japan and regional heavyweights South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Zelenskiy launched a major government reshuffle last week, promoting Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, who had served as economy minister and is well known in Washington, to head the cabinet as prime minister.
Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna is set to become Ukraine's new envoy to the United States, as Ukraine seeks to mend ties with the Trump administration.
In remarks to the diplomatic corps released by his office, Zelenskiy said envoys needed to support "everything that causes Russia pain for its war".
"While the content of our relationship with America has transformed following the change in administration, the goal remains unchanged: Ukraine must withstand Russia's strikes," Zelenskiy said. REUTERS
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