Ukraine's leader fires American ambassador amid push for increased military assistance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the decision to dismiss Olga Stefanishyna, the country's ambassador to the United States, on Monday, a move that had been anticipated following a government overhaul last month.

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The dismissal, which was announced through a decree, occurred at a time when Kyiv was engaged in intense lobbying efforts in Washington to secure additional Patriot air defence missiles to counter Russian strikes.

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In a Facebook post, Stefanishyna revealed that she had submitted a letter requesting to be relieved of her duties, stating that the decision to step down was hers alone and driven by personal circumstances.

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Stefanishyna expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve as ambassador to Washington, describing it as the greatest honour of her life, and highlighted her accomplishments, including the increase in American weapons supplies and maintenance of US support during a challenging period in Washington's political climate.

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Stefanishyna, who previously held positions as deputy prime minister and justice minister, was appointed ambassador in July of the previous year, a role that is vital to Ukraine due to its reliance on US arms deliveries and intelligence-sharing in the conflict with Russia.

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The relationship between Zelensky and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, has been marked by tension and turmoil at times, although the former real estate mogul has recently taken a more supportive stance towards the Ukrainian leader.

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According to reports from Ukrainian media outlets, Stefanishyna is currently under investigation by the country's anti-corruption agency for suspected wrongdoing, although no formal charges have been brought against her.

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Following the dismissal, Zelensky has not yet announced a replacement for Stefanishyna as ambassador to the United States, a decision that comes on the heels of a controversial government reshuffle in July.