As Trump Seeks Rapprochement with Russia, Kyiv Embassy Faces Internal Strain
As President Donald Trump pursues a thaw in relations with Russia, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is grappling with internal turmoil.
Bridget Brink, who had served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022, found herself in a difficult position under the new administration. Trying to align with Trump’s more critical stance on Ukraine, Brink publicly supported the White House following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s rocky Oval Office meeting with Trump.
Ukrainian officials took note. After a deadly Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih in early April, Zelensky criticized the U.S. embassy’s response as "weak," accusing it of avoiding even naming Russia as the aggressor.
On April 10, Brink submitted her resignation — just six weeks shy of completing three years in the role. A Western diplomatic source confirmed she left Kyiv on April 21. The embassy declined to comment on her departure.
Multiple diplomats told the Kyiv Independent that Brink’s resignation stemmed from “policy disagreements” with the Trump administration — a sentiment echoed by Foreign Service Officer Kraig Cook, who also resigned earlier this year.
Cook, part of the embassy’s press team, stepped down just before the Trump-Zelensky meeting in February. In his resignation letter, seen by the Kyiv Independent, he criticized the administration for “echoing Kremlin talking points” and called a proposed U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals deal “predatory.” He also faulted the embassy’s leadership for their “deafening silence.”
Cook said many embassy staff privately opposed the policy shift under Trump and expressed concern about its alignment with Russian interests.
A Stark Shift in Tone
Brink’s diplomatic approach under President Biden had previously drawn praise. According to Cook, she played a key role in securing and accelerating U.S. aid to Ukraine despite obstacles in Washington.
“Ambassador Brink worked tirelessly behind the scenes to minimize delays,” Cook said. “She was a strong advocate for why Ukraine mattered to U.S. security.”
But her tone changed under Trump. A turning point came on Feb. 28, when Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance harshly criticized Zelensky during a White House meeting. In an unusual move, the Ukrainian delegation was asked to leave early. The embassy remained silent, but Brink’s official account retweeted Trump’s post accusing Zelensky of disrespecting the U.S. and being “not ready for peace.” She also amplified praise from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who lauded Trump for his “courage.”
“Bridget Brink knew what she had to do to stay in Trump’s good graces,” said Cook. “The Oval Office meeting wasn’t a red line for her.”
A Public Fallout
Tensions boiled over after the April 4 missile strike on Kryvyi Rih, which killed 20 people, including nine children. Brink’s post avoided blaming Russia, simply stating, “This is why the war must end.”
Zelensky responded sharply the next day, saying the embassy's message was “surprisingly disappointing,” and criticized its failure to name Russia as the attacker.
According to a Financial Times review, Brink mentioned Russia only five times in the 75 days after Trump took office — never in direct attribution for attacks.
Following Zelensky’s criticism, Brink began calling out Russia more explicitly. On April 13, she condemned a Russian attack on Sumy that killed 35 and injured 117, noting the use of cluster munitions. She also retweeted statements from U.S. officials describing the attack as “horrifying.”
Behind Brink’s Departure
Despite her shift in tone, Brink ultimately chose to resign. A diplomat familiar with her departure said her resignation wasn’t triggered by Zelensky’s criticism, but by broader policy differences with Washington.
“She had a strained relationship with the President’s Office even before Trump took office, largely due to her support for Ukrainian reform efforts,” the diplomat said. “But it was the policy disagreements with Washington that ultimately led her to step down.”
A G7 embassy source confirmed that “policy disagreements with Washington” was the official reason shared with diplomatic partners.
“Given that the Trump administration no longer appears to share the same goals for Ukraine, it’s understandable why Ambassador Brink felt she could no longer serve,” said Cook.
Dissent Inside the Embassy
Cook’s own resignation reflected growing disillusionment within the embassy.
He said he initially hoped Trump’s “peace through strength” rhetoric and Rubio’s promises of a pragmatic foreign policy might yield a just outcome in Ukraine. But he quickly saw the administration drawing false equivalences between Ukraine and Russia — including Trump’s direct call with Vladimir Putin and the U.S. decision to meet Russian officials in Saudi Arabia without Ukraine present.
Cook left Kyiv on Feb. 28 — the same day as the controversial Oval Office meeting. In his letter, he warned that abandoning Ukraine and empowering Russia would send a dangerous message globally.
He also criticized a proposed minerals deal that would give Washington sweeping control over Ukraine’s natural resources while limiting Kyiv’s path to EU membership. Though the U.S. has since softened its terms, Cook said many colleagues privately expressed concerns about the direction of U.S. policy.
“To my knowledge, I’m the only one who’s stepped down,” Cook said. “But I know I’m not alone in how I feel.”
The writing is on the wall that says the Trump administration is definitely not behind Ukraine. Ukraine needs to offer the minerals deal with the European Union to get them to back Ukraine
ReplyDeleteukraine needs to do a deal with the European union "now"
ReplyDeleteI could not agree further with the comments above The fact is that TRUMPET IS ONLY OUT TO MAKE MONEY FOR HIMSELF. Not interested OTHERWISE!!!!!!
ReplyDelete