Zelensky urged to recall ambassador after partisan meeting sparks row
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson called on Volodymyr Zelensky to recall the Ukrainian ambassador in Washington. The reason is that she organized a meeting of the Ukrainian president at an American ammunition factory.
On Wednesday, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson demanded that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recall Oksana Markarova from her position as ambassador in 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," Johnson's post reads.
"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, where the upcoming presidential elections could be decided.
In Scranton, Zelensky met with Governor Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, and Congressman Matt Cartwright - all 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, emphasizing that such incidents cannot happen again.
Johnson will not meet with Zelensky
During a press conference, the Speaker of the House 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 tell 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.
