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Washington:
President-elect Donald Trump is considering making his former intelligence chief Richard Grenell the 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, will play a key role in Trump’s efforts to prevent war if he is appointed. is finally selected for the post.
While there is currently no special envoy dedicated solely to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump is considering creating the role, according to four sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because of internal discussions. Requested.
Trump may ultimately decide not to create a special envoy for the Ukraine conflict, although he is strongly considering doing so, the sources said. If he does, he may eventually choose someone else for the role, and there’s no guarantee Grinnell will accept.
Trump vowed on the campaign trail to end the conflict quickly, though he has not said how he would do that.
Some of Grenell’s stances may give Ukrainian leaders pause.
During a Bloomberg roundtable in July, he advocated the creation of “autonomous zones” to resolve the conflict, which began after Russia invaded the autonomous region of Ukraine. He also suggested he would not be in favor of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the near future, a position he shares with many of Trump’s allies.
Grenell’s supporters say he has a long diplomatic career and deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Grenell was also the special presidential envoy for peace talks in Serbia and Kosovo.
Carolyn Levitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition effort, declined to comment, saying that decisions by the president’s chosen officials “will continue to be announced when they are made.”
Grenell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Grenell, who had campaigned for Trump leading up to the Nov. 5 election, was the top contender to become secretary of state.
He was eventually passed over for Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a move that surprised and upset some of Grenell’s closest allies.
(Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
