President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the appointment of an ambassador to the United States with former prime minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, and Pavlo Palisa, an adviser to the head of the President’s Office. The head of state said this at a meeting with journalists on 27 October.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Pavlo Palisa would make a good ambassador, as he has an American education and speaks the language. He also personally knows US President Trump.
“We discussed the candidacies of Yuliia Svyrydenko, Dmytro Kuleba, and Pavlo Palisa, because he has an American education, speaks the language, there is a lot of work to be done there specifically on military issues, and Trump knows him. Palisa would make a good ambassador, but he doesn’t want to. He said: ‘Send me to the front, return me urgently to the brigade. I’m not going anywhere from Ukraine.’ We will continue consultations on this,” the president commented.
Pavlo Palisa commanded the 93rd Brigade. He took part in the fighting for Bakhmut. He holds the rank of colonel. In November 2024, he was appointed deputy head of the President’s Office. He is a member of the Ukrainian negotiating group.
In August this year, Zelenskyy said he had a candidate for the new ambassador, but did not name them. The previous ambassador, Olha Stefanishyna, resigned amid the announcement of new charges against her — for false asset declarations and illicit enrichment.