USSR-born Boris Epstein could become Trump's special envoy to resolve the Ukrainian conflict - NYT

Trump's Soviet-born legal adviser Boris Epstein could become special envoy to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. According to The New York Times, Epstein himself proposed his candidacy for this role on board the plane when Donald Trump, after winning the election, was flying to a meeting with current US President Joe Biden.

According to the publication, Epstein has long had influence in Trump’s circle, but after the presidential election his position became stronger. Epstein was born in the USSR and spent his childhood there. As an argument in favor of his appointment as Trump's assistant on Ukraine, he used the fact that he has relatives in Russia and Ukraine.

According to the publication's sources, Trump listened to Epstein's proposal, but did not give final consent. The NYT notes that Epstein's influence on Trump is stronger than that of many other advisers. Even Elon Musk, who attended many meetings during the transition period, was surprised by Epstein’s high status, the interlocutors noted.

The newspaper writes that Epstein does not have a diplomatic background. He is a defendant in a criminal case; he, like other Trump advisers, was accused of trying to overturn the results of the US presidential election in 2020 through fraudulent lists of electors.