- Victoria Nuland, a top official in the State Department, is retiring soon.
- She played a crucial role in the US response to the war in Ukraine.
- Julianne Smith may replace her, and John Bass will serve as acting undersecretary for now.
Top official Victoria Nuland from the State Department is retiring soon, as per Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement on Tuesday.
Nuland was working as the undersecretary of state for political affairs. She played a big part in how the US reacted to the war in Ukraine.
Right now, there’s a hold-up in Congress about giving money to Kyiv, and Russia is making progress in the fighting.
Julianne Smith, who is currently the US Ambassador to NATO, might be picked to take Nuland’s place, according to someone in the know.
For now, John Bass, who works as the Undersecretary of State for Management, has been asked to step in as the acting undersecretary, Blinken mentioned.
Nuland had been acting as the deputy secretary of state for several months after Wendy Sherman retired last July. She wasn’t chosen to fill that position.
Instead, it was given to Kurt Campbell, a senior official from the National Security Council, who started in mid-February.
Blinken had some good things to say about Nuland, calling her “truly exceptional.” He mentioned how she led the Department on various issues over the past three years, like dealing with tough situations in places like the Sahel, Haiti, and the Middle East.
She also worked on strengthening America’s friendships with Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
But it’s her work on Ukraine that Blinken thinks will be remembered for a long time. He said her efforts were really important in facing up to Putin’s big invasion of Ukraine.
She helped bring together countries from around the world to make sure Putin didn’t succeed in his plans.
She also helped Ukraine move forward so it can stand on its own in different ways – like being a democracy, being strong economically, and having a strong military.
Blinken also liked that Nuland always spoke her mind, which he thought was good for him and for US foreign policy.
He said she always supported and encouraged American diplomats, helping them and their families when needed.
She could bring some light even in tough times, make people laugh when they were feeling down, and was always there to support them.
As Nuland prepares to step down, her work and dedication to diplomacy and international relations will surely be missed.
But her legacy, especially in handling the Ukraine crisis, will be studied and remembered for years to come.