Bridget Brink, the US Ambassador to Ukraine, resigned her post just two days ago, facing mounting pressure from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office in Kyiv, as well as dealing with the challenges from her ultimate boss in Washington, President Donald Trump, according to sources close to her.
As Brink concluded almost three years of service in a war zone away from her family, the cumulative strain had also begun to take its toll, according to those familiar with the situation.
A State Department spokesperson acknowledged her contributions, stating she delivered an “extraordinary performance.”
Her unexpected departure marks significant upheaval in Washington’s relationship with Kyiv, which has shifted dramatically since the Trump administration took office, redirecting US policy away from Ukraine and toward Russia.
A former Ukrainian official, who held a favorable view of Brink, shared with CNN that the ambassador felt she could no longer fulfill her role effectively under the new administration’s directives.
“She was a very systematic supporter of Ukraine during her three years in Kyiv. She did everything her position allowed her to do in order for Ukraine to succeed. Her principles would not allow her to do the opposite,” the unnamed official stated.
He added that Brink’s decision to resign was rational and carefully considered rather than emotional.
“She took a very rational decision about what she can do right now, in a new environment, under new circumstances,” he noted.
Brink began her tenure in May 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
During her time in office, while key discussions between Washington and Kyiv took place primarily within the White House, Brink maintained a visible presence in Ukraine and on social media, advocating for the Biden administration’s policies on military and humanitarian aid transfers.
Western ambassadors who worked alongside Brink in Ukraine praised her extensive work ethic and professionalism.
“Tough as nails, almost a machine sometimes, but with a kind of authentic engagement and a real kind of fire,” one ambassador remarked approvingly to CNN.
However, that toughness faced challenges as the political landscape evolved, particularly following Trump’s return to power.
The new administration has opened numerous channels to Moscow, shifting from a policy of diplomatic isolation to one of engagement.
This new approach involved moving from support for Ukraine’s unwavering path to NATO membership to virtually ruling it out completely.
At one point, the US even suspended all military aid and intelligence-sharing, seemingly to pressure Kyiv into committing to discussions aimed at ending the war.
The strains stemming from this pronounced shift in US policy culminated for Brink in two notable social media interactions.
One incident involved a retweet of a post by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, shortly after Zelensky faced public criticism from Trump and his deputy JD Vance during a meeting at the White House at the end of February.
“Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no president has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America first. America is with you!” Rubio’s tweet read, which Brink subsequently retweeted after translating it into Ukrainian.
The retweet attracted a torrent of criticism, with over 1,700 comments expressing disbelief that someone who had previously vocally supported Ukraine was now effectively endorsing the humiliation of its leader.
One of the more courteous responses read, “Resign and maintain your dignity,” while many commenters were considerably less restrained.
The second issue arose just a week ago, when Brink tweeted condemnation of a Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, which led to the loss of civilian lives—remarkably the heaviest toll this year.
“Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant in Kryvyi Rih. More than 50 people injured and 16 killed, including six children. This is why the war must end,” she wrote.
In response to Brink’s tweet, Zelensky issued a sharp criticism during his nightly address, pointing out her failure to explicitly mention Russia.
“Such a strong country, such a strong people – and such a weak reaction. They are even afraid to say the word ‘Russian’ when talking about the missile that killed children,” he observed.
Though Brink addressed Russia in later comments concerning the attack, the former Ukrainian official extended sympathy regarding the predicament Brink found herself in.
“She was part of her system; she had to do it,” he told CNN.
When confirming Brink’s resignation to reporters on Thursday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce sidestepped a question regarding whether the ambassador had been specifically instructed to minimize public references to Russia, stating she was “not aware of anything like that” and added that she “wouldn’t speak to anything regarding … a diplomat and the internal dynamics that might occur.”
Efforts to contact Brink for a comment have proved unsuccessful.
The challenges Brink faced were not limited to tensions with her own government, as relations with Zelensky’s office also grew increasingly strained during her tenure.
The Ukrainian president’s team expressed dissatisfaction concerning what they perceived as the Biden administration’s excessive caution about transferring crucial weapons, such as longer-range tactical missiles (ATACMs) and F-16 fighter jets.
As the most senior US official in Ukraine, Brink became the target of much of that frustration, with her relationship with Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, being particularly strained.
Brink was also a staunch advocate for anti-corruption reforms and measures aimed at enhancing transparency—issues she believed were vital for winning congressional support amid skepticism about Ukraine spending.
However, these positions made her unpopular in Kyiv, according to Andy Hunder of the American Chamber of Commerce, who stated, “She’s been very good for the business community in Ukraine … with a focus on the shadow economy … but (too often) there wasn’t the political will to do anything about it.”
Another former ambassador from Europe who served in Kyiv alongside Brink was more direct in their assessment, saying, “She never sugar-coated things … she was always very clear with them as to the kind of standards against which they would be met in Washington … and I think that kind of pissed them off.”
Hunder suggested that by the end of her tenure, Brink was simply exhausted from the political pressures stemming from both administrations she had to navigate.
The former Ukrainian official, who spoke in support of Brink, clearly articulated the concerns surrounding her resignation.
“We were lucky; we had a great supporter. Right now, we have uncertainty,” he observed.
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