President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, is reportedly considering appointing Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, as a special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine war, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany and as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, would play a crucial role in Trump’s efforts to end the war if ultimately chosen for the position.
Currently, there is no special envoy assigned to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, Trump is contemplating the creation of this post, though no final decision has been made.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to swiftly end the war but has not provided specifics on how he intends to achieve this.
Some of Grenell’s positions are likely to unsettle Ukrainian leaders.
At a roundtable in July, Grenell advocated for the creation of “autonomous zones” as a potential solution to the war, which began in February 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He also suggested that NATO membership in the near term might not be in Kyiv’s best interest—a stance shared by many of Trump’s allies.
Supporters of Grenell highlight his extensive diplomatic career and deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Grenell was a special envoy for peace negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia.
Neither Trump’s office nor Grenell has commented on whether he will be appointed to this role.
Grenell, who campaigned for Trump in the November 5 election, was initially a leading contender to become secretary of state. However, Trump ultimately chose Marco Rubio for the position, a decision that surprised and disappointed Grenell’s close allies.
