House Speaker Mike Johnson of the Republican party has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to dismiss the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. amidst growing criticism from Republicans regarding Zelenskyy’s recent visit to a munitions factory in Pennsylvania. The visit, seen as a political move by some Republicans, was arranged by Ambassador Oksana Markarova, but reportedly did not include any invitations extended to Republicans. Johnson accused the visit of being a campaign event designed to support Democrats and described it as election interference.
The demand for Ambassador Markarova’s immediate removal came as Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations in New York before heading to Washington, D.C., where he is scheduled to brief senators on the current war efforts and meet with President Joe Biden. Johnson’s call for the dismissal of Markarova, who has been well-received in Washington and on Capitol Hill, has added tension to the U.S.-Ukraine relationship at a crucial time as Zelenskyy seeks American support during an election year.
While Democrats have largely backed Ukraine with financial aid and supplies since the Russian invasion in 2022, Republicans have displayed varying degrees of support, particularly influenced by former President Donald Trump’s America First stance, which advocates for limited U.S. involvement overseas. Despite bipartisan support for Ukraine against Russia’s aggression, criticisms have been directed towards Trump by Ukrainians, leading to a strained relationship between the two countries.
Zelenskyy’s visit to the Pennsylvania munitions factory aimed to express gratitude to the workers producing critically needed munitions for Ukraine’s defense against Russian forces. The factory, located in Scranton, is a crucial producer of 155 mm artillery shells, with Ukraine having already received over 3 million shells from the U.S. The visit saw prominent Democrats from the state, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey, and Rep. Matt Cartwright, attending, while it remains unclear if any Republicans were invited.
The visit created a backlash from Republicans, with Rep. James Comer launching an investigation into whether taxpayer-funded resources were misused to facilitate Zelenskyy’s visit as a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris. Senate Republicans also criticized Zelenskyy’s actions, with some labeling it as a misstep. On the contrary, Sen. Roger Wicker, a strong supporter of Ukraine, suggested that Zelenskyy’s visit may not be as partisan as perceived, highlighting the importance of bipartisan support in times of international crises.
