President-elect Donald Trump is considering making his former intelligence chief Richard Grenell a special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to four sources familiar with the transition plans.
Grenell, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Germany and was acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s 2017-2021 term, would be critical of Trump’s efforts to prevent war if he is ultimately selected for the post. Will play an important role.
While there is currently no special envoy dedicated to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump is considering creating the role, according to four sources, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
Trump may ultimately decide not to create a special envoy for the conflict in Ukraine, though he is strongly considering doing so, the sources said. If he does, he may ultimately choose someone else for the role, and there’s no guarantee Grenell will accept.
Trump vowed during the campaign to rapidly end the conflict, though he did not explain how he would do so.
Some of Grenell’s stances may give Ukraine’s leaders pause.
During a Bloomberg roundtable in July, he advocated the creation of an “autonomous zone” as a means to settle the conflict, which began after Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian sovereign territory. He also suggested that he would not be in favor of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the immediate future, a position he shares with many of Trump’s allies.
Grenell’s supporters say he has had a long diplomatic career and deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as Ambassador to Germany, Grenell was also a special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace talks.
Caroline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition effort, declined to comment, beyond saying that the president-elect’s personnel decisions “will continue to be announced as they are made.”
Grenell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Grenell, who campaigned for Trump in the November 5 election, was a top contender to become secretary of state.
He was ultimately dropped for Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a move that surprised and upset some of Grenell’s close allies.
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