Ukraine’s Ambassador to the USA, Olga Stefanishyna, is stepping down due to an audit of her assets.
Olga Stefanishyna / © Olga Stefanishyna
Ukraine’s Ambassador to the USA, Olga Stefanishyna, will soon depart from her post following an investigation into her financial holdings. She made this decision independently, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s request for her to remain.
Stefanishyna made this announcement during the Monitor Breakfast event and a press conference in Washington on July 30.
Stefanishyna is leaving her post as Ambassador to the USA — what she stated
The head of the diplomatic mission emphasized that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not discuss this matter with her and supports her continued work.
“He (Zelenskyy — ed.) did not ask me to resign, and in fact, he does not want me to leave… He wants me to stay in office. Because, essentially, even before I arrived here as ambassador, I prepared a plan. We worked on it, and essentially, we are where we wanted to be,” the diplomat said.
Stefanishyna cited media allegations of a supposed conflict of interest in Ukraine and violations during asset declarations as the reason for her move. The diplomat views this situation as natural for officials at this level.
“You know that everyone in the president’s inner circle is suspected of many things, and there is indeed an attempt to bring accusations regarding how I declared my assets. This is an absolutely normal process,” she noted.
The official also stated her readiness to personally appear in Kyiv to answer all questions from law enforcement and the public.
“It will be public. It is not related to my official position, or what I used during my official capacity, or anything connected with it. But at the same time, the discussion continues,” added Olga Stefanishyna.
Olga Stefanishyna’s Resignation — Latest News
Earlier, a number of Ukrainian media outlets reported that Olga Stefanishyna allegedly requested to end her diplomatic service for personal reasons. Media also speculated that Yulia Svyrydenko could become the new Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA.
Previously, we wrote that according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a decision regarding the dismissal of a number of Ukrainian ambassadors abroad will be made in the near future.
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