Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is struggling to find a senior enough candidate to represent Kyiv in Washington as relations with the Trump administration enter a critical stage, Politico reported Friday, Aug. 14. The vacancy follows the dismissal of Ukraine’s previous envoy to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, and has complicated Zelensky’s broader government reshuffle. According to two former senior Ukrainian officials and four lawmakers cited by Politico, several potential candidates have been reluctant to take on the demanding position.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The ambassador will face the difficult task of dealing with US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable approach to military support for Ukraine, possible peace negotiations and Washington’s decisions on air defense and other critical military assistance. Zelensky’s first choice rejected the post The need to appoint a new ambassador reportedly influenced Zelensky’s plans for the government reshuffle. According to a former Ukrainian senior official and a Republican foreign policy expert, Zelensky had hoped to offer the Washington post to Yulia Svyrydenko, who was then leaving the position of prime minister. Zelensky later confirmed that he had offered Svyrydenko the ambassadorship. “It is no secret that I counted on and offered Yulia Svyrydenko the post of ambassador to the United States,” he said at a press conference in late July.