Bridget Brink, the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, announced her resignation in April 2025, attributing her decision to President Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach toward the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. In an op-ed published in the Detroit Free Press, Brink expressed her disapproval of the administration’s strategy, stating that it placed undue pressure on Ukraine while failing to hold Russia accountable for its aggression.
Brink, a seasoned diplomat with over three decades of service, was appointed by President Joe Biden in May 2022. During her tenure, she was known for her steadfast support of Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion. However, following President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, Brink noted a shift in U.S. policy that she found untenable. She remarked, “Peace at any price is not peace at all — it is appeasement,” emphasizing her belief that the administration’s approach undermined democratic values and emboldened autocratic aggression.
The immediate catalyst for Brink’s resignation was a muted response from the U.S. Embassy to a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, which resulted in the deaths of 20 civilians, including nine children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly criticized the embassy’s lack of a strong condemnation, highlighting the growing tensions between the U.S. diplomatic mission and Ukrainian leadership.
