Second US envoy to Ukraine steps down over Trump, FT reports
Photo: Julie Davis, US Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine (facebook.com/usdos.ukraine)
Unnamed sources told the outlet that Davis became frustrated with her role due to her disagreement with Trump, who decided to scale back support for Ukraine.
According to the FT, she has already informed the State Department of her departure. Davis also plans to fully end her 30-year diplomatic career.
Journalists note that Davis, who also serves as US ambassador to Cyprus, was caught off guard by Trump’s decision to nominate Arizona businessman and Republican donor John Breslow as the next ambassador to Cyprus. She was not notified in advance.
For its part, the State Department said that Davis assumed duties as Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Kyiv on May 5, 2025, and remains in that position.
What is said about Davis in the US
The US Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine is well respected among colleagues. Former US Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried described Davis as an exemplary diplomat and public servant.
He said she is a real expert and that administrations need people like her.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also praised Davis’s effective leadership and her unique ability to manage a crisis mission.
She said that critical posts like Kyiv should not be managed from Washington or through temporary arrangements and stressed the need for a Senate-confirmed ambassador.
Brink’s resignation
It is worth noting that before Davis, the US ambassador to Ukraine was Bridget Brink.
She stepped down after Trump increased pressure on Ukraine while easing pressure on Russia.
The final straw for Brink was a verbal clash between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place at the White House in February 2025.
