Pretty Picks for US-Facing Posts Show Zelensky Has Trump Sussed
By Reuters | 21 Jul, 2025

A recent Ukrainian cabinet reshuffle shows that President Volodymyr Zelensky understands that linking attractive females to his country can make a life-and-death difference for his people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointed over a dozen new ambassadors on Monday, during a big shakeup that has seen him replace top cabinet officials and envoys to shore up relations with Washington and isolate Russia internationally.

The new envoys named on Monday include ambassadors to NATO members Belgium, Canada, Estonia and Spain, as well as major donor Japan and regional heavyweights South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. 

Zelenskiy launched a major government reshuffle last week, promoting Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, who had served as economy minister and is well known in Washington, to head the cabinet as prime minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna is set to become Ukraine's new envoy to the United States, as Ukraine seeks to mend ties with the Trump administration.

Zelensky appears to have surmised from Trump's own picks for posts like Homeland Security, White House Press Secretary and Attorney General suggest a clear weakness for attractive women regardless of their qualifications.  Both Svyrydenko and Stefanishyna are females considered of above-average attractiveness.

In remarks to the diplomatic corps released by his office, Zelenskiy said envoys needed to support "everything that causes Russia pain for its war".

"While the content of our relationship with America has transformed following the change in administration, the goal remains unchanged: Ukraine must withstand Russia's strikes," Zelenskiy said.

(Reporting by Yuliia DysaEditing by Peter Graff; additional editing by Goldsea staff)