U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering appointing his former intelligence chief, Richard Grenell, as a special envoy for the Russian-Ukrainian war.
This information was shared with Reuters by four anonymous sources familiar with the matter. According to the agency, Grenell—who previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s presidency—could “play a key role in Trump’s efforts to stop the war” if he is appointed to the position.
While there is currently no special envoy solely dedicated to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war, Trump is reportedly contemplating creating such a role. However, the sources indicated that Trump might ultimately decide against establishing the position, even though he is “seriously considering” it.
The sources also noted that if the role is created, Trump could appoint someone else, and there is no guarantee that Grenell would accept the position.
The agency added that some of Grenell’s views might “raise concerns among Ukrainian leaders.” For instance, journalists recalled that during a Bloomberg roundtable in July, the Republican advocated for the creation of “autonomous zones” in Ukraine as a supposed means of resolving the conflict. He also suggested that Ukraine’s NATO membership would not be supported in the near future.
Supporters of Grenell emphasize his extensive diplomatic career and “deep understanding of European affairs,” according to Reuters.
