US ambassador to Ukraine to step down, State Department says
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The acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Julie Davis, plans to step down from her post in Kyiv and retire after a three-decade diplomatic career, the U.S. State Department said April 28.
Davis, who has served as chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv for nearly a year, is expected to depart in June 2026, according to the department. Her departure would leave a key diplomatic post vacant at a critical moment, with peace talks at a standstill and Russia preparing a possible summer offensive.
The Financial Times reported earlier in the day that Davis' decision comes amid tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump over his administration's approach to Ukraine, including what sources described as diminishing support for Kyiv as it defends itself against Russia's full-scale invasion.
The State Department has disputed that characterization. In a statement attributed to spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the department rejected suggestions that Davis was stepping down over policy differences with Trump.
"It is false to suggest Ambassador Davis is resigning 'over differences with Donald Trump,'" the statement said.
"Ambassador Davis has been a steadfast proponent of the Trump Administration's efforts to bring about a durable peace between Russia and Ukraine. She is retiring after a distinguished 30-year tenure as a career foreign service officer."
"She will continue to proudly advance President Trump's policies until she officially departs Kyiv in June 2026 and retires from the Department," the statement added.
Davis' exit follows that of her predecessor, Bridget Brink, who resigned in April 2025 after serving as ambassador since 2022. Brink criticized the administration's approach, accusing it of pressuring Ukraine rather than confronting the Kremlin, and said remaining in her role would have made her complicit in policies she viewed as dangerous and immoral.
Davis arrived in Kyiv on May 5, 2025, to assume the role on an interim basis following Brink's resignation.
In his second term, Trump has taken an at-times confrontational stance toward Ukraine, marking a sharp shift from the policies of the preceding administration. His administration has significantly reduced support while pressing Kyiv to make concessions in pursuit of a negotiated settlement.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to quickly end the war, but efforts to broker peace have so far failed to produce results. Critics say his approach has at times aligned with Russian interests, raising concerns among U.S. and European officials about the future of American support for Ukraine.
It remains unclear who would succeed Davis or when a permanent ambassador might be nominated.
