Bridget Ann Brink is an American diplomat serving as the United States Ambassador to Ukraine. In April 2022, she was nominated by President Joe Biden to be the United States ambassador to Ukraine, and presented her credentials in May 2022. She previously served as the United States Ambassador to Slovakia from August 20, 2019, until May 18, 2022.
From 2008 to 2009, Brink served as the deputy director for southern European affairs at the U.S. Department of State. She then joined the United States National Security Council and from 2009 to 2010, she served as director for the Aegean and South Caucasus, where she helped coordinate U.S. foreign policy and advance U.S. interests with Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. In 2011, Brink returned to Georgia as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi.
President Donald Trump nominated Brink to become the ambassador to Slovakia.[5] Hearings were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 16, 2019. The committee favorably reported her nomination to the Senate floor on May 22, 2019. Brink was confirmed by the entire Senate via voice vote on May 23, 2019.[6]
Brink presented her credentials to President Zuzana Čaputová on August 20, 2019.[7]
U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
In February 2022, it was reported that President Joe Biden would nominate Brink as the United States ambassador to Ukraine.[8] On April 25, 2022, Brink was nominated to serve in that position.[9] Hearings took place on May 10, 2022, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[10] On May 18, 2022, the committee reported her favorably to the Senate floor. Her nomination process was fast-tracked and she was unanimously confirmed by the entire Senate via voice vote later that day.[11] She presented her credentials on May 30, 2022, and took office during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[12]
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Brink has supported Ukraine throughout the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On July 22, Brink stated that the United States would continue to "support Ukraine for as long as it takes." She made these statements after the White House announced they would send $270 million for military assistance to Ukraine.[13] On July 26, she met with Jonathan Markovitch, the Chief Rabbi of Kyiv.[14] In December it was reported that she had met with President Zelensky in person to securely coordinate his 9.5 hour visit to Washington, D.C., on December 23.[15]
Personal life
She is the mother of two boys, and her husband, Nicholas Higgins, also works for the U.S. Foreign Service. Brink speaks English, Russian, Serbian, Georgian and French.[1]