In Kyiv, potential candidates for Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine are being discussed

Kyiv is discussing possible candidates for the position of a special envoy on Ukraine to conduct negotiations on ending the war, potentially to be appointed by newly elected President Donald Trump, who would be responsible for Ukraine-related affairs.

Member of Parliament Oleksiy Honcharenko reports that former Trump National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien and former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell are being considered for this role.

Grenell is seen as an advocate for ending the war in Ukraine by freezing the conflict along the front line and halting Ukraine’s admission to NATO. In September, he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky during Zelensky’s visit to Trump’s office.

O’Brien holds a similar stance, favoring an end to the war along the front line. However, he has suggested threatening Russia with sanctions if it refuses to negotiate. Additionally, he proposed shifting the burden of funding Kyiv to the European Union.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian publication “Dzerkalo Tyzhnia” names another candidate for special envoy – diplomat Brian Hook. Hook significantly differs from the aforementioned figures. While O’Brien and Grenell generally align with Trump’s foreign policy agenda, including on Ukraine (negotiations with Russia to end the war along the front line), Hook is closer to another faction of the Republican Party, known as the “war party.”

From 2018 to 2020, Hook served as the U.S. Special Representative for Iran and senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo is known for his hardline stance toward Russia and had proposed to Trump to increase arms deliveries to Kyiv instead of ending the war along the front line. Additionally, Pompeo is reportedly closely connected with the Ukrainian President’s Office.

However, Trump recently stated that Pompeo would not be part of his team.

Therefore, if Hook is indeed appointed as special envoy, it would mark a significant success for the ‘war party.’ It would also decrease the likelihood of reaching an agreement to end the war along the front line, a goal that is already difficult to achieve.

Nevertheless, at this point, the potential appointment of Hook is being discussed only in Ukraine. Other appointments by Trump suggest a different policy direction toward Ukraine.