Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy has appointed Olga Stefanishyna, a former deputy prime minister and top European integration official, as Ukraine’s new ambassador to Washington despite ongoing corruption allegations linked to her past government work.
In his evening address on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said that “formal procedures have been completed” and instructed Stefanishyna to “fully implement all the agreements reached in Washington, primarily in the defence sphere.”
Stefanishyna, who served as deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration from 2020 and later as minister of justice from 2024, was temporarily appointed as a special envoy to the United States in July amid renewed graft allegations.
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) confirmed last month that it had launched a probe into possible abuses involving the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA), after a media investigation linked Stefanishyna's former husband to questionable asset transfers.
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Although no formal charges have been filed, the pre-trial inquiry was confirmed just days before Zelenskyy moved to strip Ukraine’s anti-graft bodies of independence. The decision provoked a strong backlash from the European Union, warnings of a freeze in financial aid, and widespread street protests.
Under pressure from Western partners, Zelenskyy later reversed course and restored autonomy to NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Still, anti-graft officials said “the damage has been done,” citing a breakdown in whistleblower cooperation and fears of political interference.
Stefanishyna has repeatedly dismissed corruption claims as politically motivated. In an interview last month, she emphasised that she has been divorced since 2017 and has “no connection” to her ex-husband’s business dealings, saying their interaction is limited to matters concerning their children.
The diplomat is also implicated in another long-running corruption case dating back to her time at the Ministry of Justice in 2014, when investigators alleged she approved inflated contracts linked to Ukraine’s EU accession talks. Stefanishyna has denied wrongdoing, arguing that the charges were exaggerated.
Despite the controversies, Zelenskyy praised her experience, stressing that Ukraine’s long-term security depends on strong ties with Washington. He voiced hope for “swift progress in our relations” with the United States.
Stefanishyna replaces Oksana Markarova, who had served as ambassador since 2021 but fell out of favour after U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson accused her of interfering in American elections on behalf of the Democrats.
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