[ad_1]
U.S. ambassador to Ukrainian Ukrainian Bridget Brink has resigned, the State Department confirmed Thursday.
State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce said Brink would leave her role, although he did not give her a specific departure date.
This news comes at a critical moment for our foreign policy as authorities work to ease tensions and end the war of crushing in Eastern Europe.
A career diplomat with decades of experience, Brink was named then-President Joe Biden, unanimously confirmed by the Senate in May 2022, just months after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Two Chinese men were captured in Ukraine, Zelensky claims
She became the first US ambassador to serve in Kiev since 2019, helping embassy staff reestablish American diplomatic presence after they evacuated early in the war.
Ukraine’s US Ambassador Bridget Brink will speak at a press conference in Izmaire, Ukraine on April 26, 2023 (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
Before serving in Ukraine, Brink was Slovakia’s US ambassador and held a top role on the National Security Council. She speaks Russian and is known for her strong defense of our interests in Eastern Europe.
We will know in “a few weeks” whether Russia is serious about peace or using “delay tactics”: Rubio
While in Ukraine, Brink was a supporter of the voices of American military aid, and often made public appearances in Ukrainian leaders. Her resignation comes as the Trump administration focuses on ending the war through diplomacy and new consultations with Russia.
Ukrainian President Voldy Mir Zelensky (AP Photo/evgeniy maloletka/file)
Also on Thursday, US and Russian officials held a rare in-person meeting in Istanbul, with the aim of repairing long-trained diplomatic relations. The State Department said the two sides will exchange formal memos to complete a contract that will stabilize banking services at embassies in the country.
In recent years, the two countries have imposed financial restrictions on each other’s embassies, cutting personnel down due to fallout from the war. The ultimate banking transaction could open the door to recover some of the lost diplomatic connections.
The State Department said no dates were set, but a tracking consultation is expected.
Brink’s departure lands at the moment of a massive transition in US foreign policy. Her exit may also clarify the path of a new ambassador that is more closely aligned with the Trump administration’s pursuit of a ceasefire contract.
Click here to get the Fox News app
The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jasmine is a writer for Fox News Digital and is a New Orleans-based military spouse. Stories can be sent to jasmine.baehr@fox.com
[ad_2]Source link
