Joe Biden nominates new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
April 25, 2022, 5:55 pm

Joe Biden nominates new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine

Joe Biden-US president-Shutterstock

The Xinhua reported, U.S. President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Bridget Brink for U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, a vacant post since May 2019.

The announcement on Monday (Apr 25) by the White House came shortly after Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a press conference at an undisclosed location near the Polish-Ukrainian border following a secrecy-shrouded visit to Kiev, where they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Blinken told reporters he shared with Zelensky "a number of things" the United States is committed to regarding Ukraine in its military conflict with Russia, "including President Biden's intent to nominate a new ambassador to Ukraine, Ambassador Bridget Brink."

The visit of the delegation of the US high officials to Kiev at this moment responsible for the Ukrainian state is very valuable and important. Discussed with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Minister of Defense Lloyd Austin on defense assistance, strengthening sanction policy against Russia, financial support of Ukraine and security guarantee. Grateful to the United States of America for unprecedented help! (Photo and text: President Volodymyr Zelensky official Facebook page)

Blinken described Brink, a Michigan native appointed by former President Donald Trump to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Slovakia in August 2019, as "deeply experienced in the region, who'll be a very strong representative for the United States in Ukraine."

According to the Xinhua, the United States has been without a Senate-confirmed ambassador to Ukraine since May 2019, when Trump recalled then-Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch over claims she was undermining the former president's efforts to press Ukraine to investigate the Biden family's business ties with the country.

President Zelensky meets face-to-face with Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin

The Xinhua added that Blinken also said U.S. diplomats, who left Ukraine due to the war, will return to the country next week and "start the process of looking at how we actually reopen" the U.S. embassy in Kiev, which ceased operation in the lead-up to Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

Source: xinhua

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.