US Senators Shaheen and Tillis praise Ambassador Bridget Brink’s service as she steps down

US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), Co-Chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, issued a joint statement acknowledging US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink’s intent to step down after nearly three years of service.

“For almost three years as US Ambassador to Ukraine, Ambassador Bridget Brink has demonstrated exceptional leadership, resolve, and unwavering commitment to advancing American security and values. Across a distinguished diplomatic career spanning administrations of both parties, she has championed US interests and cultivated bipartisan support for Ukraine through close engagement with Congress,” the senators stated.

They emphasized Brink’s instrumental role in reinforcing Ukraine’s sovereignty amid Russia’s ongoing aggression, noting that her efforts not only supported Ukraine but also helped bolster US national security in the face of rising global threats.

The senators also acknowledged the personal sacrifices made by Brink and her family during her tenure. “We thank them for supporting her and wish them well in their next chapter,” the statement concluded.

Brink, who was appointed by President Joe Biden in April 2022, has served through a critical phase of the US-Ukraine relationship, marked by Russia’s full-scale invasion and shifting dynamics in international security.

The State Department confirmed her resignation on Thursday. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce called Brink’s service “extraordinary,” highlighting her leadership during a time of war.

While Brink was a vocal advocate for continued US military assistance to Ukraine, her final months in office saw a brief diplomatic strain. Following a deadly Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over what he perceived as a subdued response from Brink, criticizing her for not explicitly attributing the attack to Russia in her official remarks.