Klimkin says Umerov is the strongest candidate for Ukraine's ambassador to the US

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is the strongest candidate for the post of Ukraine's new ambassador to the United States, which is being considered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This opinion was voiced by LIGA.net former Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.

According to him, Umerov is well perceived by those who deal with the Ukrainian topic in the environment of the US President Donald Trump. This is an emotional moment, but because everything in the new administration is perceived through an emotional prism, it is quite important.

It is also an important bonus that people who work with Ukraine believe that he did a good job in the negotiations in Saudi Arabia and Istanbul.

"I think that of the candidates that are probably on the table of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, I don't know what he has, but he definitely has his own shot list, this is the strongest one as of today. Obviously," Klimkin said.

At the same time, he believes that it will be difficult for Umerov as ambassador to balance relations with the administration and build relations with everyone else, as this administration does not accept Democrats.

"It will not be easy to build a positive story around him," the former minister said .

• on July 7, Bloomberg reported that Zelenskyy discussed replacing Ukraine's ambassador to Washington during a conversation with Trump..
• On July 8, a source LIGA.net in the President's Office said that Zelensky told Oksana Markarova that he intended to dismiss her.
• On July 10, while speaking to journalists, President confirmed that he was considering Umerov for the post of ambassador to the United States. He thanked Markarova for her work.