Zelenskyy awarded Stefanchuk the highest diplomatic rank

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. The head of state signed the corresponding decree on August 25.

According to Presidential Decree No. 831/2026, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk received the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary – the highest diplomatic rank in Ukraine.

By the same document, Zelensky awarded the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, second class, to the Director of the Hennadiy Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ihor Ostash.

What does Stefanchuk’s diplomatic rank mean

The assignment of a diplomatic rank in itself does not mean the appointment of Ruslan Stefanchuk as the ambassador of Ukraine to a specific state.

A diplomatic rank is a special title that is assigned in accordance with the legislation on the diplomatic service. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary is the highest of the provided diplomatic ranks.

At the same time, the decision came against the backdrop of large-scale personnel changes and rotations in the diplomatic corps of Ukraine.

Ukraine is preparing a new ambassador to the United States

The process of determining a new head of the Ukrainian embassy in Washington is underway separately.

The president previously announced that he had already decided on a candidate. According to him, Ukraine in the United States needs an experienced person and a strong communicator who is able to work not only with the White House administration, but also with senators, think tanks and American media.

In early August, Zelensky dismissed Olga Stefanyshyna from the post of Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. She explained the end of her diplomatic service by personal circumstances.

In recent months, the media have named several possible candidates for the position of the new ambassador. Among them is the deputy head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palis. Previously, the candidacies of Rustem Umerov and Yulia Svyrydenko were also discussed.

The official name of the new Ukrainian ambassador to the United States has not yet been announced.