Following the resounding refusal of politicians to lead the Ukrainian embassy in the USA, Western analysts are urging Volodymyr Zelensky to take an unprecedented personnel step that will allow him to speak with the Pentagon on equal terms and secure new Patriots.
Americans want to see a military figure instead of a politician as Ukraine’s ambassador / © Associated Press
Instead of appointing another politician to this crucial diplomatic position, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is advised to send someone with real military experience to the USA. In the opinion of experts, an ideal candidate would be a specialist in unmanned systems, capable of communicating with the Pentagon as an equal.
This is reported by American businessman Jed Sanden, head of the Ukrainian-American Political Action Committee, in his opinion piece for the Polish publication Onet.
Svyrydenko’s Refusal and an Exchange for Patriots
Kyiv had intended to fill the vacant position in the USA with a career politician, offering the post to ex-Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. However, she declined to replace Olga Stefanishyna in Washington. The author of the article emphasizes that transferring a political ally abroad for a “soft landing” is currently a completely misguided step.
Instead, Ukraine needs someone knowledgeable about drones, as this is the only area where Kyiv can not only request assistance but also share unique experience. American strategists are actively studying Ukrainian doctrine to understand the combat success of our drone fleet.
“The relationship becomes an exchange: we need your Patriot systems, and you need to understand what we’ve learned about destroying armored vehicles with a $500 quadcopter,” Jed Sanden emphasizes.
Military Authority Beyond Politics
Aid to Ukraine has become a subject of fierce bipartisan debate in the US, so our country needs a representative who stands above political battles. In American culture, the armed forces traditionally remain outside partisan differences, so a soldier in the ambassadorial role would never be perceived by Congress as a political schemer.
Ukraine already has a successful example of this approach: former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi serves as ambassador in London, and British defense circles truly heed his words. Israel took a similar step in 1968 when it sent Yitzhak Rabin to Washington immediately after his command in the Six-Day War. It was precisely this military experience that helped lay a strong foundation for modern security relations between the US and Israel.
Recall that Zelensky has not yet definitively decided who will head the Ministry of Defense. However, he did not rule out the possibility that the former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, could become the Minister of Defense.
Nevertheless, it has become known that Klymenko is currently refusing to head the Ministry of Defense. Another conversation may soon take place between the president and Mykhailo Fedorov, who resigned from his post as head of the Ministry of Defense.
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