Olga Stefanishyna was appointed as Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States of America on August 27, 2025. Before that, she served as the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice of Ukraine. In her governmental role, she oversaw Ukraine’s integration efforts with the EU and NATO, shaped legal policies, and set the priorities for the Ministry of Justice. She was also a member of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. She chaired the Commission on Coordination of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic Integration, where she led the development of the adapted Annual National Program.
After Ukraine applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022, she led the accession process. By a presidential decree on June 21, 2024, she was designated as the chief negotiator and head of Ukraine’s delegation for EU accession talks. Since the onset of the full-scale war, Stefanishyna has strengthened Ukraine’s collaboration with the UN to provide comprehensive support to individuals affected by war-related violence, in particular assisting survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.
With over 17 years of expertise in international and European law, Stefanishyna previously worked at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, served as Director-General at the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, and practiced as a private attorney. She holds a Master’s degree in International Law, a Diploma in Economics, and studied at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.
She is the mother of two children.
Awards & Recognition
Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olha by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
2022: Women for Peace and Security Award from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
2023: State Order of Merit (III degree) for significant contributions to interstate cooperation, effective diplomatic work, and high professionalism
2023: state award of Lithuania — the Officerʼs Cross of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania for her efforts to achieve Ukraineʼs membership in the European Union and NATO
2025: State Order of Merit (II degree)