Richard “Ric” Grenell, who was the acting director of National Intelligence in the first administration of President-elect Trump, is reportedly being considered as a special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Currently, there is no special envoy responsible for ending the war in Eastern Europe. Trump is seriously considering whether to create the role, Reuters reported, citing four sources familiar with the president's discussions.
If he does create a new position, Grenell is said to be the front-runner, although Trump may choose someone else, sources told Reuters. There is also no guarantee that Grenell will accept the position if it is offered to him, the sources said.
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Ric Grenell, former acting director of National Intelligence, during a campaign closing ceremony with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Sarah Rice/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital was previously told that Grenell was being considered for US Secretary of State. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was instead named to lead the State Department.
Neither Grenell nor Trump's transition team responded to requests for comment.
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Former US Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), US Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump and conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck participated in a private roundtable discussion during the campaign at Findlay Toyota. Center on October 13, 2024, in Prescott Valley, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Trump has repeatedly made campaign promises to quickly resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, if elected, although he has never laid out a specific plan to end the war.
Grenell, a Trump loyalist, has made statements in the past that may worry Ukraine's leadership.
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Former Acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell speaks on stage during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
During a Bloomberg roundtable in July, he advocated the creation of “independent zones” as a way to resolve the conflict, which began after Russia invaded Ukrainian territory. He also suggested that he would not favor Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization anytime soon, a position he shares with many of Trump's allies.
Grenell's supporters note that he has had a long diplomatic career and a deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Grenell was also the president's special envoy for peace talks in Serbia and Kosovo.
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Before serving in the first Trump administration, Grenell was the US State Department's spokesperson for the United Nations under President George W. Bush. He has advised various Republican candidates and was Mitt Romney's foreign policy spokesman during the 2012 presidential campaign.
Grenell was previously a Fox News contributor.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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