Trump to appoint special envoy for resolving Russo-Ukraine war

The newly elected U.S. President, Donald Trump, is expected to appoint a special representative “in short order” to lead negotiations aimed at ending the Russo-Ukrainian war, Fox News reports, citing sources.

“You’re going to see a very senior special envoy, someone with a lot of credibility, who will be given a task to find a resolution, to get to a peace settlement,” one of the anonymous sources said.

According to ZN.UA, which cites its own sources, the position will likely go to Brian Hook, a career diplomat, lawyer, and public servant. From September 2018 to August 2020, Hook served as the U.S. Special Representative for Iran and senior advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“During his tenure, Hook worked to negotiate with European leaders on an expanded nuclear deal with Iran and led talks to secure the release of two Iranian detainees, Siamak Namazi and Michael White,” the report states.

European Pravda notes that Hook supported a hardline policy toward Iran, including withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and overseeing the operation that led to the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

A similar position existed in the first Trump administration: from 2017 to 2019, Kurt Volker served as the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, working in a volunteer capacity.

“While the exact powers of this new special representative remain unclear, the appointment aligns with Trump’s earlier statements about quickly seeking a resolution to the war in Ukraine,” European Pravda adds.