Trump may appoint Richard Grenell as a special envoy for the war in Ukraine.
The elected President Donald Trump intends to appoint Richard Grenell as a special representative for the Russian-Ukrainian war. Grenell is a former intelligence chief and a well-known critic of Ukraine’s rapid NATO accession. Some of his statements may cause Ukrainian leaders to reconsider their positions.
This is reported by Reuters, citing four sources familiar with Trump’s transition plans. The publication notes that Grenell, who previously served as ambassador to Germany and acted as the U.S. Director of National Intelligence during Trump’s presidency from 2017 to 2021, could become a key figure in the elected president's end to the war in Ukraine, pending his confirmation.
Sources speaking on condition of anonymity indicate that Trump is considering creating a special envoy position dedicated solely to resolving the "Russian-Ukrainian conflict." This could be one of his initial diplomatic moves after taking office. However, a final decision on the establishment of this position has yet to be made.
During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war within 24 hours, although he has not disclosed how he plans to achieve this. Some of Grenell's statements might make Ukrainian leaders think twice.
"In July, he advocated for the establishment of 'autonomous zones' as a means to resolve the conflict. He also opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO in the foreseeable future, which aligns with the position of many of Trump’s allies," writes Reuters.
The publication notes that Grenell's supporters emphasize his extensive diplomatic experience and knowledge of European affairs. Besides his work in Germany, he served as the U.S. special envoy in negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo.
Previously, Grenell was considered a candidate for the position of Secretary of State, indicating his high level of trust from the elected president.
Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine
The elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, is focused on ending the war in Ukraine. He even plans to appoint a special representative who will be responsible for organizing negotiations with Russia and overall halting the war. Currently, it is unknown who will be confirmed for this position, but several names have already been mentioned in the media.
On November 13, the Ukrainian publication ZN.UA, citing sources, reported that the main candidate for the special envoy position for Ukraine to conduct negotiations to end the war from Donald Trump is Brian Hook - a former U.S. special representative for Iran, who worked in the Trump administration for two years during his first term. An informant provided detailed information about him.
Recently, influential U.S. adviser Boris Epstein suggested to Donald Trump that he act as a messenger for negotiating the resolution of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Epstein was born in Russia, lived there during his childhood, and reportedly has family in both Russia and Ukraine. He justified his position by stating that he has personal connections to both sides of the conflict, having been born in Russia and lived there in his youth.
According to The New York Times, Boris Epstein remains a key figure in Trump’s team that is shaping future political strategy. His influence, along with the proposals themselves, has elicited mixed reactions both from the president's close circle and among political experts.