Bridget Brink, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, has revealed why she left her post in April. Brink served in the role from May 2022 until April 2025. Until now, she had not spoken publicly about her resignation. In an op-ed published in the Detroit Free Press on Friday, she stated that she could not support President Donald Trump’s foreign policy.
Disagreement Over Trump’s Ukraine Approach
Brink openly criticized Trump’s stance on Ukraine. “I respect the president’s right and responsibility to determine U.S. foreign policy ― with proper checks and balances by U.S. Congress,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, the policy since the beginning of the Trump administration has been to put pressure on the victim, Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia.”
She explained that this shift in approach made her position untenable. Therefore, she chose to resign. “Peace at any price is not peace at all ― it is appeasement,” she added.
From Strong Support to Neutral Stance
During President Joe Biden’s term, Brink strongly supported Ukraine. However, after Trump took office in January 2025, her tone changed. He had promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly. As a result, Brink’s public comments became noticeably neutral.
Zelenskyy’s Criticism and the Fallout
In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Brink. He said she reacted weakly to a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih. The attack killed 11 adults and 9 children. This criticism drew widespread attention.
A few days later, the State Department confirmed that Brink was stepping down. Her departure closely followed Zelenskyy’s public remarks.