America’s Ambassador to Ukraine Resigns
Brink did not have an easy job—serving as the link between the United States and Ukraine at a time of profound difficulty for the latter country.
The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine is resigning from her post ahead of schedule, according to the U.S. Department of State.
In a rare move, Ambassador Bridget A. Brink is stepping down from the highest diplomatic post in Ukraine before her tenure is over. Although Brink has not officially resigned yet, her decision to do so appears final.
The State Department verified the reports via an email statement.
Why Did Ambassador Brink Resign?
It is not yet clear why Brink decided to resign from her post. Political appointees tend to serve at the discretion of the incumbent president. However, career ambassadors within the U.S. Foreign Service, as Brink was, typically serve three-year stints before being reassigned to another post. Brink would have hit the three-year mark in May.
A posting to Ukraine is likely one of the most difficult jobs within the State Department. Foreign Service officers usually deploy to the country unaccompanied without their families. A wartime ambassadorship offers excitement and rare opportunities to shape the course of a conflict—and even history. However, such service also takes its toll.
“Ambassador Brink is stepping down. She’s been the ambassador there for three years – that’s a long time in a war zone,” a State Department spokesperson said in an email, according to Reuters.
Another possible reason behind Brink’s decision to resign is ongoing disagreements with the White House. President Trump has taken a vastly different approach to the Ukraine conflict than his predecessor, under whom Brink was appointed.
Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war has often raised alarms on the Hill, within Kyiv, and in the capitals of America’s European NATO allies. Although the United States resumed intelligence sharing with the Ukrainian military and intelligence services after a sudden pause, it has yet to free approximately $4 billion in security aid already allocated to Ukraine. The U.S. has provided more than $65 billion in military assistance to the Ukrainian military throughout the conflict.
“The real issue is whether the Russians and Ukrainians are ready to do what’s necessary to end this war,” the State Department added.
Brink did not have an easy job—serving as the link between the United States and Ukraine at a time of profound difficulty for the latter country. Although Washington and Kyiv have largely walked hand-in-hand in opposing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the two countries have also had their differences in terms of how to approach the conflict. Brink successfully navigated diplomatic and military differences in approach and ensured that the public united front against Russia’s aggression never seriously faltered.
The United States, Ukraine, and Russia are currently engaged in discussions for a ceasefire that could lead to a peace settlement, although little progress has been made.
Ambassador Brink’s Long Public Service
Nominated by President Biden and confirmed unanimously by the Senate, Ambassador Brink arrived in Ukraine in May 2022, only a few weeks after Russia launched its large-scale invasion.
Brink is a career Foreign Service officer. Before her ambassadorship in Ukraine, she had served in a similar capacity in the Slovakia. Prior to that, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State, with a focus on Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and the protracted conflicts in Europe. Brink also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and in Tbilisi, Georgia.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / paparazzza.