According to the Associated Press on April 10, a US State Department spokesman confirmed that US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is about to resign, but did not mention the specific reason for her resignation and the exact time of her departure.
Brink is a senior US diplomat who joined the US State Department in 1996 and served as the US Ambassador to Slovakia from 2019 to 2022. Since May 2022, Brink has served as the US Ambassador to Ukraine. She is a staunch supporter of military aid to Ukraine and has expressed her support for Ukraine through social media and speeches.
On April 10, local time, the U.S. State Department said in an email that Brink was about to resign. "She has been there as ambassador for three years, which is a long time for a war zone." U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce later confirmed the news at a press conference. Bruce said: "Ambassador Brink spent three years at the Ukrainian Embassy during the conflict. During these three years, she performed exceptionally well and we wish her all the best. Of course, this is also a reminder that when it comes to the issues we think about around dialogue, we know that we are working (for peace) and this is our focus." The Associated Press noted that after Trump won the 2024 U.S. election, Brink and several U.S. ambassadors submitted their resignation letters to the incoming Trump administration, but their requests were not accepted at the time. It is not clear whether the Trump administration has determined Brink's successor. Some U.S. officials revealed that the Trump administration has considered several candidates.
The Financial Times quoted multiple sources as saying that Brink's policy differences with the Trump administration have intensified as Trump seeks to "quickly end the Russia-Ukraine conflict" and tries to restore relations with Russia. Senior Trump administration officials have continued to put pressure on Brink, accusing her of being unwilling to support Trump's Ukraine strategy.
But on the other hand, Brink's relationship with the Ukrainian government has gradually deteriorated. Many Ukrainian officials believe that after Trump came to power, Brink's message has changed, and her statements have begun to approach Trump's position.
On April 4, local time, the central Ukrainian city of Krivyh was attacked by Russian missiles, killing 19 people.
On the day of the attack, Brink posted on social media: "A ballistic missile hit the amusement park and restaurant near Krivyh tonight, injuring more than 50 people and killing 16 people, including 6 children. This is why the conflict must end."
This statement caused dissatisfaction with Ukrainian President Zelensky, who accused Brink of being unwilling to criticize Russia. Zelensky said on social media: "Regrettably, the response of the US Embassy was unexpectedly disappointing: such a powerful country, such powerful people, but only such a weak response. They didn't even dare to say the word "Russia" when talking about the attack."
The Financial Times statistics show that before and after Trump took office as US President, Brink's statements on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict did undergo a significant change, especially reducing the criticism of Russia. In the 75 days before Trump took office, Brink criticized Russia and its military actions 53 times. In the 75 days after Trump took office, she only mentioned Russia 5 times.
However, sources said that the deterioration of relations with Ukraine was not the reason for Brink's resignation.
At the time of the news of Brink's resignation, the Ukrainian delegation was on its way to the United States to discuss the mineral agreement with the Trump administration. According to the Ukrainian "Kiev Independent", Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishina confirmed that the US and Ukrainian delegations will meet on April 11 local time for technical consultations on the mineral agreement.
The previously disclosed draft agreement shows that the Trump administration is trying to use this agreement to gain control over Ukraine's key minerals, but the draft does not provide Ukraine with any security guarantees. Stefanishina said on the 10th: "I can't reveal any details at the moment because the meeting will not be held until tomorrow, and I will be able to comment tomorrow."
