Bridget Brink was confirmed as the United States Ambassador to Ukraine on late Wednesday by the Senate. The legislative chamber voted in favour of the confirmation unanimously without a formal roll call vote.

United States President Joe Biden nominated Brink last month as Russia’s assault on Ukraine ramped up in the eastern and southern regions of the country. The invasion was launched on February 24, 2022.

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Brink is a veteran foreign service officer of the United States, who has spent most of her career in the shadow of the former Soviet Union, Associated Press reported. The Senate confirmation comes as multiple American diplomats have started making their way back to Ukraine.

At her Senate confirmation hearing, Brink said that she would work to reopen the United States embassy in Kyiv, roughly three months after it was shut down.

“I have every confidence she will be an outstanding Ambassador”, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement after Brink was confirmed as the American envoy to Ukraine. 

“To have an Ambassador there at this critical time as the United States continues to help the Ukrainian people … is a wonderful thing, is a good thing, and will help advance the cause of peace, security and freedom”, Schumer added.

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Marie Yovanovitch was the last diplomat who held the position but was removed by then-President Donald Trump, Politico reported. At the time Trump also sought an investigation into his political rivals. The saga led to Trump’s first impeachment.

Brink’s confirmation in the Senate was unusually fast after Schumer requested a quick review. The Foreign Relations Committee had the confirmation hearing last week, after which a favourable report was submitted to the Senate on early Wednesday. All 100 Senators agreed to vote in favour of Brink in a matter of hours.