Former US Ambassador to Kyiv Bridget Brink stated that President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military support for Ukraine in 2025 posed a threat not only to Ukrainians but also to about a thousand employees of the American embassy in the capital of Ukraine.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Lack of consultations and risks for diplomats
In an interview with Reuters, Brink, who led the US diplomatic mission in Ukraine from May 2022 to April 2025, emphasized that the Trump administration did not consult with her on Ukrainian issues at the beginning of his second presidential term. She noted that without prior notice from Washington, American diplomats in Kyiv were left unprotected, as the suspended aid included air defense systems. According to Brink, these systems protected not only the local population but also embassy personnel from Russian missiles and drones.
“I had 1000 people, all civilians, on the ground. And we were protected by Ukrainians using American and other equipment,” Brink told the agency for the analytical investigative article “An Inside Look at the Collapse of American Diplomacy During Trump’s Era.”
The former diplomat also shared that she received no explanations from Washington regarding the reasons for the suspension of support, despite repeated requests for clarification, as this issue concerned not only the safety of Ukrainians but also American personnel.
Political context and subsequent events
Brink led the US embassy in Kyiv during the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term. Following tense negotiations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February 2025, during which Trump stated that Zelensky was “not ready for peace,” the United States suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Zelensky left the White House without signing a cooperation agreement in the field of minerals.
On March 4, 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized his readiness to work “under strong leadership” from Trump for the sake of peace. According to Brink, the US embassy was actively working to restore military aid, and by March 11, 2025, support was partially restored.
According to US Vice President Jay D. Vance, the suspension of aid aimed to stimulate the negotiation process between the conflicting parties.
Brink emphasized that during Joe Biden’s presidency, she participated in National Security Council meetings where US policy towards Ukraine was coordinated, whereas under Trump, such meetings ceased. The former ambassador noted that the last straw for her was the Trump administration’s desire for “appeasement” of Russia to establish ties with Vladimir Putin.
The White House explains its position regarding the Kremlin by the desire to end the war as soon as possible through negotiations. After resigning in April 2025, Brink announced her intention to run for the US Congress from the state of Michigan as a representative of the Democratic Party. The US State Department expressed gratitude for her three years of work in challenging conditions of a war zone, emphasizing continued commitment to achieving peace in Ukraine.
Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, involving the US, which lasted several rounds in the winter, are currently suspended. However, neither side has announced its withdrawal from the process. On May 20, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may soon visit Moscow for further consultations.