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Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump is considering appointing his former acting Director of National Intelligence, Richard Grenell, as a special envoy for the “Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
This was reported by Reuters, citing four anonymous informed sources.
According to the report, Grenell, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Germany and acting Director of National Intelligence during his 2017–2021 presidency, would play a key role in Trump’s efforts to address Russian aggression if he assumes the position.
The four sources indicated that currently, there is no special envoy exclusively focused on resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Trump is exploring the possibility of creating such a role.
At the same time, the sources added that Trump may decide not to establish a special envoy position for this issue, although he is seriously considering it. There are no guarantees that Grenell would agree to take the post.
Grenell, a 58-year-old Republican, served as U.S. ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020, as the president’s special envoy for peace negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo, and as acting Director of National Intelligence from February to May 2020.
During a Bloomberg roundtable in July, Grenell advocated for the creation of “autonomous zones” to resolve Russia’s war against Ukraine. He also suggested that he might not support Ukraine’s NATO membership in the near future.
Grenell’s supporters emphasize his long diplomatic career and deep expertise in European affairs. In addition to his role as ambassador to Germany, Grenell was also a special envoy for peace negotiations involving Serbia and Kosovo.
Furthermore, Grenell was a leading candidate for the position of Secretary of State, though Senator Marco Rubio, a fellow Republican, ultimately secured the role.
It is worth noting that one of Trump’s advisors, Boris Epshteyn, who was born in Russia, has proposed himself as a candidate for the position of special envoy for resolving the Russia-Ukraine war.
Read also: More than 140,000 war crimes recorded in Ukraine over 1,000 days of war
