Speaker Johnson Demands Zelensky Fire His Ambassador to the U.S., Refuses to Meet Him
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to fire Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. for organizing her visit to Pennsylvania.
Over the weekend, Zelensky visited an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania alongside the state’s top Democratic political leaders, including Gov. Josh Shapiro. Ukrainian ambassador Oksana Markarova reportedly organized the tour of the facility.
Johnson said the visit was led by a “top political surrogate” for Kamala Harris and “purposely excluded” Republicans from accompanying Zelensky. Pennsylvania is a key battleground state in the upcoming November presidential election.
“I demand that you immediately fire Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova,” Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelensky after calling the tour a clear “election interference.”
Johnson, who will not meet with the zelensky tomorrow, says zelensky should fire the ambassador for having the Ukrainian president go to PA. pic.twitter.com/dR2F52MKL2
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) September 25, 2024
“As you have said, Ukrainians have tried to avoid being ‘captured by American domestic politics,’ and ‘influencing the choices of the American people’ ahead of the November election,” Johnson continued. “Clearly, that objective was abandoned this week when Ambassador Markarova organized an event in which you toured an American manufacturing site.
Johnson claimed the “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.” He concluded, “She should be removed from her post immediately.”
The House speaker will also reportedly not meet with Zelensky during his visit to Capitol Hill this week.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee led Rep. James Comer (R-KY) has launched an investigation into the Biden administration for the alleged use of taxpayer money to fund Zelensky’s flight to Pennsylvania.
Comer noted in a statement on Wednesday that the committee is seeking documents relating to the administrations alleged “misuse of government resources” that allowed Zelensky to “interfere in the 2024 presidential election.”
