Ukraine may appoint a new ambassador to the United States and former Finance Minister Oksana Markarova is a probable candidate.
The Ukrainian diplomatic mission in the United States is currently headed by Volodymyr Yelchenko, who was appointed by President Volodymyr Zelensky less than a year ago, but it has been decided to replace him with Markarova, according to the online newspaper zn.ua.
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"The idea was introduced by [Chief of Zelensky's Staff] Andriy Yermak. It is necessary to resolve the issue with the IMF [International Monetary Fund]. There is no money. And Markarova is in good standing there," the newspaper said, citing its sources in the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A source in the Foreign Ministry comments on the possibility of Markarova's appointment in the following way: "The classic [diplomacy] returns to Washington after [Joe] Biden's victory, and Markarova is not a classic diplomat. The IMF is a very important factor, but the American direction is much broader, more systematic and requires more diplomatic practice and outlook."
Who is Oksana Markarova
- Markarova headed the Ukrainian Finance Ministry from June 2018 to March 2020, being first acting minister, and from November 22, she was a full-fledged head of the ministry. She was a member of the National Security and Defense Council. After Markarova's resignation, she founded the Capital Market Development Foundation and launched her own startup.
