By Charles Switzer
12:58pm PDT, Apr 11, 2025
Ambassador Bridget Brink to Step Down from Ukraine Post
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
Bridget Brink is resigning from her position, the State Department confirmed on Thursday, April 10.
Her departure adds an element of uncertainty to the U.S.–Ukraine diplomatic relationship amid the ongoing war with Russia.
"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 emailed statement.
Brink, appointed by former President
Joe Biden, has served in Kyiv since May 2022. According to sources familiar with the decision, her exit is voluntary and not connected to external pressure, though it comes with criticism.
Here's what happened.
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Departure Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Challenges
Bridget Brink's exit comes during a sensitive moment, as the
Donald Trump administration continues efforts to negotiate a resolution to the war in Ukraine.
Washington, D.C., has recently attempted to implement two ceasefires — one focusing on energy infrastructure and another in the Black Sea — but neither has held.
"Ambassador Brink's been ambassador at the embassy in Ukraine for three years during a time of war… An extraordinary performance there, and we wish her well," State Department spokesperson
Tammy Bruce said at a press briefing Thursday.
"We're working for that war to end, and that is our focus, and we expect, of course, our work … will continue in that regard," Bruce added.
No Immediate Successor Named
The State Department has not yet announced who will replace Bridget Brink. However, two individuals familiar with internal discussions said that Chris Smith, deputy assistant secretary for Eastern Europe and policy and regional affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, is under consideration.
Smith previously served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv from 2022 to 2023.
Criticism Following Tragic Strike in Ukraine
Bridget Brink recently drew criticism from Ukrainian officials for her public response to a Russian missile attack on a playground in President
Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, which resulted in the deaths of 11 adults and nine children.
While Brink acknowledged the attack on social media platform X, she did not specifically name Russia as the perpetrator.
Zelenskiy responded sharply, saying on X that the U.S. embassy's reaction was "surprisingly disappointing."
He added, "Such a strong country, such a strong people, and yet such a weak reaction. They are afraid to even say the word 'Russian' when speaking about the missile that murdered children."
There is no evidence to suggest this incident contributed to Brink's decision to leave.
Brink Joins a Broader Diplomatic Transition
Bridget Brink is among the highest-ranking career diplomats to exit the State Department since President Donald Trump's return to office.
She joins other seasoned officials such as former Under Secretary John Bass, who stepped down in January.
Although political appointees often resign with a new administration, it is less common for career diplomats to depart, making Brink's resignation particularly notable.
It is reported that Brink is expected to leave her post in the coming weeks.
