Senior White House official tapped to serve in important European ambassadorial role amid Ukraine concerns

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 war in Ukraine 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.

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 war in Ukraine 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.