Zelenskyy conferred the highest diplomatic rank on Stefanchuk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has conferred the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk. This is the highest diplomatic rank provided for under Ukrainian law. The president signed the corresponding decree on August 25.
According to the document, Ruslan Stefanchuk has been granted the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. This is the highest diplomatic rank in Ukraine. Below this rank are the ranks of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the first and second classes.
In other words, this does not mean that Stefanchuk has been appointed ambassador to any specific country. The President has simply granted him a diplomatic rank. This rank signifies the highest level of diplomatic status under Ukrainian law.
Who Else Has Received a Diplomatic Rank
By the same decree, Zelenskyy conferred the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the second class on Ihor Ostash. Ostash heads the Hennadiy Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For him, this also represents a promotion in diplomatic rank, though he received a rank one level lower than Stefanchuk’s.
What Does the Rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mean?
According to Ukraine’s Law “On the Diplomatic Service,” the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary is the highest in Ukraine’s system of diplomatic ranks. At the same time, this rank alone does not mean that a person automatically becomes the head of a specific embassy.
Ambassador is a diplomatic position, while diplomatic rank is a separate status. It may be conferred upon civil servants of the diplomatic service at the appropriate level and, in certain cases, upon other officials in accordance with the law.
As the head of a diplomatic mission, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary represents Ukraine in another country and directs the work of the embassy. He also coordinates the activities of Ukrainian diplomatic missions in the host country and official Ukrainian delegations.
Stefanchuk Remains Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada
Ruslan Stefanchuk holds the position of Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The conferral of diplomatic rank does not in itself imply his dismissal from the post of Speaker of Parliament or his appointment as ambassador.
Thus, Zelenskyy’s decree pertains specifically to Stefanchuk’s diplomatic rank. The president’s decision became known on August 25, when the relevant document was published on the head of state’s official website. Decree No. 831/2026 was published on the website of the President of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Andriy Kuzmenko from the post of Ukraine’s ambassador to Qatar. The head of state signed the corresponding decree on August 25, 2026.
