PM Svyrydenko has declined post of Ukraine's ambassador to US – sources

Sources within President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team have told Ukrainska Pravda that as of 14 July, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has not agreed to take up the post of Ukraine's ambassador to the US following her resignation.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in Zelenskyy's Office

Details: One source said: "Yuliia flatly refused. As in, 'Get lost'."

Sources close to Svyrydenko say she is still weighing up what to do next after her time in government.

Quote: "She still has plenty of time. She'll make a decision by September."

Background:

• On 12 July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Yuliia Svyrydenko, after which he announced she would step down as head of government and lead "a new and important area of relations with a key partner".
• According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, Serhii Koretskyi, CEO of Naftogaz and Director of Ukrnafta, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov are among the candidates being considered for PM.
• On 12 July, Zelenskyy held meetings with Koretskyi, Shmyhal, Fedorov and Terekhov, as well as Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
• MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak had reported that Yuliia Svyrydenko would become Ukraine's ambassador to the US after stepping down as prime minister. According to media reports, the current ambassador, Olha Stefanishyna, has requested to leave her post for personal reasons.

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