US ambassador resigns due to pressure from Kyiv and Washington

US ambassador resigns due to pressure from Kyiv and Washington

When U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink resigned from her post two days ago, she was under pressure from both President Volodymyr Zelensky of Kiev and the influence of her ultimate superior in Washington, President Donald Trump, insiders report. This came in the midst of her nearly three years of service in a war zone, which also put a strain on her family. A State Department spokesman called their work an “extraordinary achievement.”

The Impact of the Withdrawal on US-Ukraine Relations

Brink's sudden resignation marks the latest shift in relations between Washington and Kiev since the Trump administration took office, which initiated a drastic reorientation of U.S. policy toward Russia and away from Ukraine. A former Ukrainian official who views Brink favorably said the ambassador felt she could no longer do the right thing under the new administration.

Brink's commitment to Ukraine

"She was a very systematic supporter of Ukraine during her three years in Kiev. She did everything that her office allowed so that Ukraine could succeed. Her principles did not allow her to do the opposite," the former official said. In an anonymous conversation, he emphasized that Brink's decision to resign was well thought out and not made emotionally.

Insight into her term of office

Brink took office in May 2022, just months after Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine. While Kyiv's key contacts were in the White House - National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan played a central role during the Biden era - Brink kept her visibility high in the country and on social media to support the Biden administration's policies on military and humanitarian aid transfers.

Challenges and tensions

During her time in office, Brink's resilience was tested, particularly by Trump's return to power. The new administration opened multiple channels to Moscow after three years of diplomatic isolation. The focus shifted from supporting an “irrevocable path” for Ukraine to NATO membership to almost outright rejection. Last month, the US government even paused all military aid and intelligence cooperation to pressure Kiev to begin negotiations to end the war.

Public reactions and feedback

The difficulties of dealing with this pronounced political shift were evident in two of her social media posts. The first was a retweet of a post by Secretary of State Marco Rubio just hours after Zelensky was publicly attacked by Trump and his deputy JD Vance at a meeting at the White House. Rubio's tweet, which Brink translated into Ukrainian, sparked astonishment and outrage at the perceived support of a person who had previously been a vocal supporter of Ukraine.

The response to the attack in Kryvyi Rih

Another notable tweet was sent just a week earlier, following a Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, which recorded the heaviest civilian casualties in a single attack this year. "Horrified that a ballistic missile struck near a playground and a restaurant in Kryvyi Rih this evening. More than 50 injured and 16 dead, including six children. This is why the war must end," she wrote.

The pressure on Brink and the reactions

Zelensky himself responded in his late-night address, denouncing Brink's failure to mention Russia by name. "Such a strong country, such strong people - and such a weak response. They are even afraid to say the word 'Russian' when talking about the rocket that killed children," he said. Brink mentioned Russia in later comments, but her former Ukrainian colleague was sympathetic to the difficult situation she found herself in.

The end of an era and uncertainty in Ukraine

Brink's departure deepens the uncertainty in Ukrainian-American relations. "We were fortunate to have a great supporter. Now we have uncertainty," the former official said. While Brink's relations with the Ukrainian government became more difficult over time, her ties with Zelensky's office also suffered under pressure from both governments and the associated political demands.