Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed replacing the current ambassador to the US during his phone call with President Donald Trump on Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Markarova had been criticised by many of Trump’s allies in congress as being too close to Democrats. Her removal will be seen as Zelenskyy trying to appease Trump at a sensitive time for Ukraine, after the administration paused deliveries of some key weapons last week.