Trump’s Aide Offers Himself as Peace Envoy for Ukraine War
Boris Epshteyn, a key adviser to Trump, has proposed himself as a special envoy for the war between Russia and Ukraine. This move comes at a time when there is uncertainty about Trump’s future policy on Ukraine.
Epshteyn, who was born in Russia, suggested that he could help broker peace because of his family ties on both sides of the conflict. However, he has no diplomatic experience.
Trump reportedly showed interest in Epshteyn’s proposal, but did not make any promises. Epshteyn already has a lot of influence within Trump’s transition team and is serving as a key gatekeeper for information about personnel and cabinet selections.
Epshteyn was previously dismissed from the White House communications office due to security clearance issues. However, he has now emerged as a powerful figure in the transition process.
In just two days, Epshteyn assembled the Justice Department staff that Trump had wanted but never achieved during his first term. He also played a crucial role in Trump’s decision to nominate Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida as attorney general.
Epshteyn has a history of advocating for aggressive legal strategies and has pushed for delaying trials until close to or beyond elections. This approach made trials costly and challenging, but prevented sentencing in one criminal trial that proceeded.
Despite his lack of experience, Epshteyn’s proposal has drawn attention from even the world‘s richest man, Elon Musk.