Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to replace Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, in what appears to be a strategic move to stay on good terms with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Zelensky agreed to make the change during a recent phone call with Trump. Talks are already underway to decide who will succeed Markarova, with both Washington and Kyiv needing to sign off on the appointment.

Markarova has served as Ukraine’s ambassador in Washington since 2021. However, some Republican figures have accused her of being too close to the Democratic Party—an image that could prove troublesome for Ukraine as it continues to rely heavily on U.S. military and economic support in its fight against Russia.

By signaling a willingness to replace Markarova, Zelensky may be hoping to smooth relations with Trump, who is once again a key player in the U.S. political landscape and has often expressed skepticism about the scale of American aid to Ukraine.

This comes at a particularly delicate moment for Kyiv. Earlier this year, Washington put a hold on previously approved arms shipments, even as Russia keeps up relentless missile and drone attacks more than three years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

For Ukraine, ensuring bipartisan support in the U.S. is critical to sustaining the flow of weapons and financial assistance needed to keep its defenses strong. A new ambassador who can work effectively with a Republican-led Washington—or even a potential second Trump administration—could be central to that strategy.

It remains to be seen who will be tapped for the role, but one thing is clear: as the war grinds on, Kyiv is carefully managing its diplomatic ties to keep vital U.S. support on track.