At the end of December, the internal chats of Ukrainian diplomats were heated. Employees of embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs exchanged rumors about Olesya Ilashchuk, the new ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria. On Sunday, December 25, 2022, information about this also reached the mass media and Telegram channels, and “European Pravda” (Ukrainian news website) found data about the new ambassador, and confirmed that the position was indeed received by a person, not from the diplomatic system. See also: The history of Scythian gold from Melitopol, which Ukrainians found, then buried, and could not save from Russia Appointment of ambassadors from outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in general, is a common practice, and not only in Ukraine. This fact is not something extraordinary; moreover, some of these ambassadors have proven their effectiveness. However, this is another story. And when the government justifies the Presidential decree by comparing Ilashchuk to Ambassador Oksana Markarova (Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States) or other colleagues, it is either manipulation or a lack of understanding of the problem. Because the President’s decision on a new ambassador to Bulgaria will have either bad or catastrophic consequences. This text explains why this is not an exaggeration. See also: How “Russian peace” is being built in Turkey and how it threatens Ukraine’s partner However, Bankova Street (a street which houses the Presidential Administration of Ukraine and various official residences), still has the opportunity to avert disaster. The current government has repeatedly proved over the years that, at least in the area of foreign policy, it is able to listen to criticism and correct mistakes. The decision on the ambassador, which means the destruction of Ukraine’s already less than ideal position in Bulgaria, should be canceled. Unfortunately, there is little confidence that Bankova Street will take this step. At the moment, Zelenskyy’s team is in denial, refusing to recognize the obvious, and coming up with excuses for an obviously wrong personnel decision which could cause serious damage to the country. It is worthwhile to understand what the danger is, why Bulgaria agreed to the appointment of the ambassador, which has so outraged Ukraine, and why the Foreign Ministry’s justifications for the personnel move are nonsense. Moreover, it is not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that is behind this scandalous appointment. See also: War for the...