Newsroom
According to the Financial Times, the acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Julie Davis, who also serves as ambassador to Cyprus, is expected to leave Kyiv in the coming weeks, at a particularly tense moment in the war as fears grow over a new Russian summer offensive and stalled peace talks.
The report paints a picture of growing frustration inside the U.S. diplomatic corps during President Donald Trump’s second term, especially among diplomats working on Ukraine. Davis, a veteran diplomat with more than 30 years of service, reportedly informed the State Department she plans to retire after feeling increasingly sidelined amid shifting U.S. policy toward Kyiv.
For Cyprus readers, Davis is a familiar figure. While accredited as ambassador to Cyprus, she was simultaneously tasked with helping manage one of the world’s most dangerous diplomatic postings in wartime Ukraine, a sign of how stretched and politically sensitive U.S. diplomacy has become.
Her tour of duty in Cyprus had already been expected to end in May, although it remains unclear what her next move will be following her reported retirement plans.
The FT reports that Davis was also caught off guard last year when she learned through media reports that Trump had nominated Arizona businessman and Republican donor John Breslow to replace her in Cyprus, without notifying her in advance.
The U.S. State Department pushed back against claims that Davis was leaving because of disagreements with Trump, insisting she remained committed to the administration’s efforts to secure peace between Russia and Ukraine until her departure in June.
Still, the article highlights deeper turmoil inside American diplomacy. Davis’s predecessor in Kyiv, Bridget Brink, also resigned after reportedly clashing with the White House over Ukraine policy. Several other diplomats connected to Ukraine have either retired, resigned, or been removed since Trump returned to office.
The FT notes that Trump has increasingly relied on close allies outside traditional diplomatic channels, including envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, while career diplomats have found themselves with less influence.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reportedly fear Russia is preparing a fresh military push this summer, even as international peace efforts remain stuck.
The article also raises broader concerns about the future of American diplomacy. According to the FT, only a small percentage of Trump’s ambassador nominees are career diplomats, with many embassies around the world, including Ukraine, still lacking Senate-confirmed ambassadors.
Several former U.S. officials quoted in the report praised Davis as a highly respected and experienced diplomat, warning that critical posts like Kyiv require seasoned professionals, not temporary arrangements, especially during wartime.
The US Embassy in Cyprus has yet to make a formal statement.
