SHOTLIST

KYIV, UKRAINE (AUGUST 27, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT “UKRAINIAN PRESIDENCY” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“I have just spoken with Olha Stefanishyna, now Ukraine’s new Ambassador to the United States of America. The formal procedures are complete – today I signed the decree appointing her as Ambassador.”

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“I outlined the key tasks for reinvigorating the work of our Embassy, and the main thing is to fully implement all the agreements reached in Washington – our agreements with President Trump, above all in the defense sphere. Much of Ukraine’s long-term security depends on relations with America.”

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“There are two Ukrainian proposals on the table – strong proposals. These are: an agreement on weapons for Ukraine and an agreement on modern drones for the United States. And we count on swift progress in our relations.”

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“I am grateful to Oksana Markarova. Oksana represented Ukraine in Washington throughout all these years of the full-scale war – a very difficult mission. And Ukraine was always heard in the United States. I want to thank her for this work. We have already spoken about further cooperation, and I invited Oksana Markarova to remain part of the team – to continue working for Ukraine.”

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“Yesterday, Andriy Yermak and Rustem Umerov had meetings in Qatar, in particular regarding mediation. Today, there were meetings in Saudi Arabia. I am grateful for the support. Tomorrow, meetings are planned in Switzerland. On Friday, in New York, the United States, there will be meetings with President Trump’s team.”

10. WHITE FLASH

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYING:

“Everyone working on the substance of the security guarantees will be involved – the military, political, and economic components of security guarantees. The task is to move as fast as possible, so that this too becomes a lever – a lever of influence. The Russians must see the seriousness of the world’s resolve and how severe the consequences will be for Russia if the war continues.”

KYIV, UKRAINE (AUGUST 27, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT “UKRAINIAN PRESIDENCY” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO — EDITORIAL USE ONLY) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday announced that he signed a decree appointing Olha Stefanishyna as Kyiv’s new ambassador to the US.

“I just spoke with Olha Stefanishyna, now the new Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States of America. The formal procedures are complete, (and) today I signed a decree on the appointment of the ambassador,” Zelenskyy said in an evening video address.

Zelenskyy said that he identified key tasks for updating the work of Ukraine’s Embassy in Washington, as well as to implement all agreements reached with the US, primarily in the defense sector.

“In many ways, the long-term guarantee of Ukraine’s security depends on relations with America,” Zelenskyy said, adding that there are two Ukrainian proposals, namely an arms deal for Ukraine and an agreement on drones for the US.

“And we are counting on rapid progress in relations,” Zelenskyy went on to say, expressing his gratitude to Oksana Markarova, who has held the post of Ukrainian ambassador to the US since February 2021, for her work.

He suggested that she continue to be on Ukraine’s team, without further elaboration on Markarova’s potential new role.

Zelenskyy signed a decree last month appointing Stefanishyna as presidential envoy for developing cooperation with the US until “necessary procedures” continue to approve her as Kyiv’s new ambassador to Washington.

He also reported on the meetings of head of Ukraine's Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov in Qatar and Saudi Arabia over the past two days, which he said touched on "mediation."

The Ukrainian president said the two top officials will hold talks in Switzerland on Thursday, and later with US President Donald Trump’s team in New York the following day, noting that all those who are working on the content of security guarantees for Ukraine will be involved.

“The task is to accelerate as much as possible so that this is also a lever – a lever of influence. The Russians need to see how seriously the world is taking it and how bad the consequences will be for Russia if the war continues,” he added.

Earlier Wednesday, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the plans, that Yermak and Umerov will meet with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff “this week.”

According to the report, the agenda of the talks is to focus on security assurances for Kyiv and a potential bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.