Speaker Johnson demands dismissal of Ukrainian ambassador over partisan acts
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson has called on Volodymyr Zelensky to recall Kyiv's ambassador to Washington. This request follows her organization of a meeting for the Ukrainian president at an American ammunition factory.
On Wednesday, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, demanded that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismiss Oksana Markarova from her position as ambassador to the United States.
"After organizing a partisan campaign event in a battleground state this week, Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova demonstrated she cannot be trusted to fairly and effectively serve as a diplomat in this country. President Zelenskyy must immediately remove her," reads Johnson's post.
"Clearly election interference"
The Speaker explained that the facility is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania—the hometown of President Joe Biden. Pennsylvania is one of the key swing states in which the next presidential election could be decided.
In Scranton, Zelensky met with the state governor, Josh Shapiro; Pennsylvania senator, Bob Casey; and congressman, Matt Cartwright - all of whom are Democrats.
Johnson stated that not inviting anyone from the Republican Party was a deliberate action. "The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference. This shortsighted and intentionally political move has caused Republicans to lose trust in Ambassador Markarova’s ability to fairly and effectively serve as a diplomat in this country. She should be removed from her post immediately," Johnson wrote, emphasising that such incidents must not be repeated.
Johnson will not meet with Zelensky
At a press conference, the Speaker of the House of Representatives was asked if he would meet with Zelensky. "No, I was not able to schedule a meeting with Zelensky this week because I was very busy, as you all may have noticed. And I don't even think I'll be in town tomorrow," Johnson replied.
However, he said what he would convey to him if they talked about Markarova. "I think it was a very terrible development, and it strains relations between the two countries at a very bad time for Ukraine, so I regret it," he said.
