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       lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
       
       
       ARTICLE VIEW: 
       
       Senior White House official tapped to serve in important European
       ambassadorial role amid Ukraine concerns
       
       By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN
       
       Updated: 
       
       4:59 PM EDT, Thu April 18, 2024
       
       Source: CNN
       
       President Joe Biden is tapping a senior White House official to serve
       as US ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
       Europe, a key body amid the ongoing and at a time when the US is
       seeking to project confidence about its support for Ukraine, according
       to an announcement from the White House.
       
       Curtis Ried, a longtime career foreign service officer who has served
       under two presidents at the White House, who currently serves as chief
       of staff and counselor of the White House National Security Council is
       being nominated for the post, CNN has learned.
       
       Ried played a key role in resettling Afghans who worked for the federal
       government in the US following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, was
       involved in the administration’s strategy related to Russia’s
       invasion of Ukraine — and most recently, has taken the lead in
       shoring up humanitarian aid into Gaza. Ried also has an extensive
       background in multilateral diplomacy, holding positions at the United
       Nations, among other diplomatic assignments.
       
       As Congress grapples with next steps on Ukraine aid, Biden
       administration officials have warned of the consequences if Ukraine
       doesn’t receive billions in additional funding, citing losses on the
       battlefield and ceding ground to Russia.
       
       In a Wall Street Journal op-ed this week, Biden called it a “pivotal
       moment,” adding that Israel and Ukraine “depend on American
       assistance, including weaponry” to defend themselves.
       
       The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization and is
       made up of 57 members, including Russia.
       
       Months after Russia invaded Ukraine, from the organization found
       “clear patterns” of violations of international humanitarian law by
       Russian forces in Ukraine and detailed numerous incidents that it says
       could constitute war crimes. Then US Ambassador Michael Carpenter said
       at the time the report documented “the sheer scope of the Russian
       government’s cruelty.”
       
       Carpenter, who stepped down from the post earlier this year, now serves
       as the senior director for Europe at the National Security Council.
       
       The move to nominate Ried comes as the US seeks to reaffirm leadership
       on the world stage amid political wrangling in Washington that’s
       stalled aid to Ukraine. CIA Director Bill Burns on Thursday warned that
       unless the US sends more military support, Ukraine could “lose” the
       war against Russia by the end of the year.
       
       It’s unclear, however, when Ried would assume the post as the
       nomination still needs to work its way through the Senate. He’s
       expected to remain in his current post for now.
       
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