List of ambassadors of the United States to Ukraine

The history of ambassadors of the United States to Ukraine began in 1992. Until 1991, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic had been a constituent SSR of the Soviet Union.

Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine
Посол Сполучених Штатів в Україні
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
Bridget Brink
since May 30, 2022
NominatorThe President of the United States
Inaugural holderRoman Popadiuk
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
FormationMay 11, 1992
WebsiteU.S. Embassy – Kyiv

History

Upon the breakup of the USSR, the parliament of Ukraine declared the nation's independence on August 24, 1991. On December 1, 1991, the people of Ukraine voted to approve the declaration by a wide margin.

The United States recognized Ukraine on December 26, 1991, and the U.S. embassy in Kyiv was established on January 23, 1992, with Jon Gundersen as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. The first ambassador was commissioned in May 1992.

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine is located in Kyiv. In January 2022, the embassy requested the evacuation of non-essential personnel and their families as the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis escalated.[1]

Chiefs of mission
No.ImageNameTypeTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated mission
–Jon GundersenCareer FSOChargé d'Affaires ad interimJanuary 23, 1992May 11, 1992
1Roman PopadiukCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 11, 1992June 4, 1992July 30, 1993
2William Green MillerPolitical appointeeAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySeptember 16, 1993October 21, 1993January 6, 1998
3Steven PiferCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryNovember 10, 1997January 20, 1998October 9, 2000
4Carlos PascualCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiarySeptember 15, 2000October 22, 2000May 1, 2003
5John E. HerbstCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 1, 2003September 20, 2003May 26, 2006
6William B. Taylor Jr.Political appointee[2]Ambassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 30, 2006[2]June 21, 2006May 23, 2009[3]
7John F. Tefft[4]Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary[5]November 20, 2009[3]December 7, 2009[5]July 9, 2013
8Geoffrey R. Pyatt[6][7]Career FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryJuly 30, 2013[7]August 15, 2013[6]August 18, 2016
9Marie YovanovitchCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 18, 2016[8]August 29, 2016May 20, 2019
–Joseph PenningtonCareer FSOChargé d'Affaires ad interimMay 20, 2019May 28, 2019
–Kristina KvienCareer FSOChargé d'Affaires ad interim[9]May 28, 2019June 18, 2019[10]
–William B. Taylor Jr.Political appointee[2]Chargé d'Affaires ad interim[11]June 18, 2019[10]January 1, 2020[12]
–Kristina KvienCareer FSOChargé d'Affaires ad interimJanuary 1, 2020[13]May 29, 2022[14]
10Bridget BrinkCareer FSOAmbassador Extraordinary and PlenipotentiaryMay 18, 2022May 30, 2022

See also

U.S. diplomatic terms

Career FSO
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).

Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as "commissioning". It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate to remain in office.

Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador's arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador's letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador's commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d'affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country.

Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime".

Notes
  1. "US embassy in Ukraine 'requests staff evacuation' amid war fears". the Guardian. January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  2. "William B. Taylor Jr". Office of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute, United States Department of State. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  3. New U.S. ambassador Tefft arrives in Kyiv, Interfax-Ukraine (December 2, 2009)
  4. Ex-US ambassador to Georgia John Tefft to lead diplomatic mission in Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (September 30, 2009)
  5. Yushchenko accepted credentials of US Ambassador and Ambassador of Turkey to Ukraine, UNIAN (December 7, 2009)
  6. Yanukovych accepts credentials from new US ambassador, discusses with him Ukrainian-US relations, Interfax-Ukraine (15 August 2013)
  7. Welcome, Mr. Pyatt!, Den (5 August 2013)
  8. "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts" (Press release). White House Press Office. May 19, 2016.
  9. Grytsenko, Oksana (May 31, 2019). "Kristina Kvien to temporarily head US Embassy in Ukraine". Kyiv Post. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  10. "Welcoming Ambassador William B. Taylor Back to Ukraine as Chargé d'Affaires". US Embassy in Ukraine. June 18, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  11. Bonner, Brian (June 18, 2019). "William B. Taylor returns to Ukraine to lead US mission". Kyiv Post. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  12. Hansler, Jennifer (January 2, 2020). "Bill Taylor departs post as top US diplomat in Ukraine | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  13. Kuleba welcomes nomination of Keith Dayton for new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine (5 May 2020)
  14. "New US ambassador to Ukraine arrives in Kyiv in symbolic move". the Guardian. May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.

References
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