US President-elect Donald Trump is considering appointing Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, as special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, citing four sources familiar with the transition team's plans, Reuters reports, UNN writes.
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Grenell, who was Trump's ambassador to Germany and served as director of national intelligence during Trump's 2017-2021 term, will play a key role in Trump's efforts to end the war if he is eventually elected to the post, the publication notes.
Although there is currently no special representative dedicated exclusively to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump is considering creating such a position, according to four sources.
Ultimately, Trump may decide not to appoint such a special representative, although he is seriously considering doing so, the sources said. If he does, he could choose someone else for the position, and there is no guarantee that Grenell would accept.
Trump vowed during the campaign to end the war quickly, although he did not say how he would do so.
Some of Grenell's positions, as the publication notes, "may make Ukraine's leaders think twice.
During a Bloomberg roundtable in July, he advocated the creation of "autonomous zones" as a means of resolving the conflict that began after Russia invaded Ukrainian sovereign territory. He also said that he would not support Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the near future, a position he shares with many of Trump's allies, the newspaper writes.
Mr. Grenell's supporters point out that he has a long diplomatic career and deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Grenell was also the president's special representative for peace negotiations in Serbia and Kosovo.
Carolyn Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, declined to comment, saying only that the president-elect's personnel decisions "will continue to be announced by him as they are made.
Grenell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Addendum
Grenell, who campaigned for Trump on the eve of the November 5 election, was the main contender for the post of Secretary of State.
In the end, he was beaten by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio from the Republican Party, which, as noted, surprised and upset some of Grenell's close allies.