Palisa Declines Ukraine's Ambassador Post in US, Asks to Return to Front

Palisa turns down Washington posting

President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on October 27 that Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the Office of the President, had refused the post of ambassador to the United States («На фронт меня, срочно в бригаду» – Charter 97) («На фронт мене поверніть»: Паліса відмовився від посади посла України у США – TSN) (Паліса відмовився від посади посла у США, консультації тривають, – Зеленський – Espreso) (Зеленський: Паліса відмовився від посади посла у США, хоче повернутися на фронт – Українська правда) (Палиса отказался от должности посла Украины в США – NV). Zelensky said the names discussed for the job included former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, former prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Palisa.

Zelensky noted that Palisa holds an American education, speaks English and is known to US President Donald Trump, qualities he said would be useful in handling military issues with Washington. He described Palisa as a good candidate who did not want the job.

According to Zelensky, Palisa said he wanted to go back to the front and rejoin his brigade urgently, and that he would not leave Ukraine. Palisa, a brigadier general and former commander of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", has served as deputy head of the presidential office since November 2024.

The ambassador post has been vacant since August 3, when Zelensky dismissed Olha Stefanishyna from the role. Zelensky said consultations on the appointment will continue.

Earlier, Palisa had denied reports that he would be named ambassador, saying Ukrainian law did not allow him to combine military and diplomatic service at the same time.