Bridget Brink: I think I would say like most things in life, it wasn't necessarily a planned journey, but I was a curious kid. I liked school. I actually really liked school. My kids think that's quite funny. I went to public high school, East Grand Rapids High School, and then later Kenyon College, and then graduate school, London School of Economics. And for a long time when I was a kid, I wanted to become a doctor because my grandfather was a doctor and did some pretty interesting work in World War II. As I've said before publicly, he treated at the time General Eisenhower during World War II, who later became the first head of NATO and then of course the president. And I think because of my love of my grandfather and my just curiosity of the world, my mother also was a science teacher, that I wanted to be a doctor. But I realized when I got to college that I found another love, and that was a political science class that spent the whole first class talking about ‘what is justice?’ And it was one of those classes in college that they only offered a freshman, because it's at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And it was only later in my college life that I realized that nobody signs up for 8 a.m. classes on any day in college if they can help it. But that class was always packed. And from the moment I had that first class and going forward, I really became interested in political theory. And so, some of the great political thinkers. And while I was in college, I decided to study abroad and just incidentally decided, but that led me to London School of Economics and more study of political science and then international relations, and then seeing the bigger world. So, the first time I ever went overseas, I was 19 years old and... then I decided to apply for the Foreign Service and I didn't make it on the first try. That's not uncommon, so I encourage people who are interested to try again and again if that's what they want to do. Anyway, I did join and it's now 28 years later and it's been a life of service, but a life of I would say just a very rewarding life. And I have a husband and kids and it's challenging on the family, but I think one of the more or most fulfilling ways to spend this one gift you have of a life to try to promote our values and our interests around the world.
Patrick Center: In all of that time and all of that effort that you've put into understanding the world, world economics, you are now placed in this pivotal location in the world and what is taking place with Russia and the Ukrainian people and defending democracy. Where are we in this arc of history?
Bridget Brink: Many people ask me, what defines your career? In part for me, it's been a geographic focus, basically on Europe and greater Europe. And that's something that has been a love and interest of mine academically. My family history is rooted there, but also professionally. But the other piece I think that has driven my career is the human desire and quest for freedom. And most of my service has been in countries that are fighting to be free. And our job as the leader of the free world has been to support that fight such as we can. And we support it because it's a basic value of ours, freedom, democracy, rule of law, human rights. But we also support it because countries that have those principles, that live by those principles are strong democratic partners to the United States. They're the partners with which we deal with global problems around the world, whether it's in the Middle East or dealing with Iran, North Korea, climate change, cyber threats. These are huge issues and issues we don't want to have to solve alone. And by having partners that share our values, we create a stronger alliance with which to solve these problems or manage these problems. Sometimes they can't be completely solved. So, I think that principle, whether I've been in the caucuses, I spent time in Georgia, whether it's been in Eastern Europe. Even in a NATO and EU country like the Slovak Republic and certainly in Ukraine, my effort has been to support this principle of freedom, of supporting the human desire to be free and to support states' efforts to choose their own futures. And that's what this war is about. This war is about one person, Putin, trying to stop a country of 40 million from choosing its own future.
Patrick Center: Are you there when the invasion takes place?
Bridget Brink: No, at that time I was the U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic. So, I saw it on TV as many other people did, was very concerned. watching what was happening and also saw how the Ukrainians, for example, lost a very strategic airfield in the first few days, few weeks of the war, Hostomel, it's right outside of Kiev, and then fought back and regained it. And thankfully they did because had the Russians held that airfield, they would have controlled the airspace above the Capitol and almost certainly taken the Capitol. I came three months into the war. It was me and nine diplomats, and we reopened the embassy and reestablished our relationship. We hadn't had an ambassador there in three years, and I was given basically one instruction in addition to, keep your people safe from my secretary, just go. And luckily, I had a great team of people. As I said, it started small, but it grew quickly. And with that team, we worked to do everything possible to support the Ukrainians in their fight.
Patrick Center: Do you believe that Americans understand what this fight is all about?
Bridget Brink: I think Americans really understand what this fight is about. I think they don't necessarily follow all the details. And sometimes I think Ukrainians worry that other events around the world may be distracting from attention and focus on Ukraine. But I think Americans, more than maybe most, if not all other countries, understand the value of freedom and understand what it means to want freedom and to fight for your freedom. And that's what Ukraine is fighting for.
Patrick Center: Is the United States providing enough of the resources that the Ukrainians need to defend themselves?
Bridget Brink: Russia could end this war. Putin could end this war tomorrow. If he were to pull his troops and his equipment out of Ukraine, it would be over. There would be no war. So as President Biden has said, It'll be up to President Zelensky to decide when and how this war ends. And our effort is to gather and rally the world in support of Ukrainians' quest to stay free and independent. I think if you'd step back from the day to day of what's going on the ground and look at the strategic picture, it's quite remarkable what the Ukrainians have accomplished. Number one, they have taken back 50% of the territory that the Russians have taken since the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Number two, they have essentially pushed back or sunk a huge portion of Russia's Black Sea fleet. And for a country with no naval ships to defeat one of the world's strongest navies in the Black Sea is incredibly remarkable. And that's important also because they have established a humanitarian corridor from which cargo ships have been able to export a huge amount of grain, agricultural goods, and other cargo to feed the world, especially in food scarce countries. And number three, the Ukrainians have been able to sustain themselves over two winters of Russia attacking the energy system, energy grid we call it, with thousands of missiles and drones. So, those three accomplishments in and of themselves are incredible under the context of this war that the Ukrainians are facing. What we are trying to do is provide as much security assistance and other assistance as possible, together with partners and allies, to make the Ukrainians as strong as possible so that President Zelensky can make his decision, will he continue to fight or will he decide to begin to negotiate. Again, the decision will be up to him. But our job is to try to help him be in the strongest possible position.
Patrick Center: Should Ukraine fall, what happens?
Bridget Brink: I think that Ukraine must win because the consequences to our own security and prosperity, if Russia is to wipe a country of 40 million people off the map of Europe, are very severe. The cost will be much higher to us if that happens and the signal that it will send to other would-be aggressors around the world is very dangerous to our own security. And so, it is vitally important that we stay the course, that we support Ukraine, that we ensure that Ukraine is able to prevail and stay free and stay independent.
Patrick Center: Vladimir Putin has been in power now for decades. U.S. intelligence has a pretty good profile on how he operates. Knowing that profile, how do we negotiate a peace?
Bridget Brink: Well, that would be up to President Zelensky and the Ukrainians. We have always said nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Which means we have made no preparations and have no intention to undertake negotiations with Russia or any other country about Ukraine without Ukraine.
Patrick Center: Being here as a recipient of the Vandenberg Prize, how special is that being home, but then also to receive a great award?
Bridget Brink: Well, I can say I'm just really humbled and honored to receive such an award. And I think when you see how many people are fighting and dying, I'm glad for the recognition of the situation in Ukraine. But I think all of us, what's really important to see is that Ukraine win, that Ukraine prevail in this fight. Because I think if we don't collectively together help them fight this aggressor, I think the consequence for our security and our prosperity are very serious. And so, it's not just about Ukraine. It's not just about Europe. It's also about the United States. And we've had 75 years of peace and security and prosperity. I think this Arthur Vandenberg, who's the senator, who the award is named after, his legacy was in building the bipartisan support needed to establish the United Nations, the Marshall Plan and NATO. And these have been institutions that have been fundamentally important to our prosperity to the state. So again, I'm humbled to receive it and hope that with the attention on Ukraine, we can support continued efforts to ensure that the outcome is that Ukraine wins.