Politics

Trump’s New Nominee For Ukraine Ambassador Is A 40-Year Military Veteran

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

Anders Hagstrom White House Correspondent
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President Donald Trump has sent an official nomination to the U.S. Senate for a new ambassador to Ukraine, the White House announced Thursday.

The nominee, Keith Dayton, previously served four decades in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of Lt. General. He since served as a senior United States defense advisor to Ukraine and worked as director of the George C. Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany, according to the White House.

The Trump administration first announced its intent to nominate Dayton on May 1, but only now sent the official nomination to the Senate. (RELATED: Watch The Moment The Senate Acquitted President Donald Trump)

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 06: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a copy of The Washington Post as he speaks in the East Room of the White House one day after the U.S. Senate acquitted on two articles of impeachment, ion February 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. After five months of congressional hearings and investigations about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, the U.S. Senate formally acquitted the president on Wednesday of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 06: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a copy of The Washington Post as he speaks in the East Room of the White House one day after the U.S. Senate acquitted on two articles of impeachment, ion February 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. After five months of congressional hearings and investigations about President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, the U.S. Senate formally acquitted the president on Wednesday of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

If approved by the Senate, Dayton will be the first U.S. ambassador to Ukraine to serve since the conclusion of the Trump-Ukraine scandal, which brought about Trump’s impeachment in the House and subsequent acquittal in the Senate in February (RELATED: ‘It Was All Bullsh*t’: Trump Blasts Media For Coverage Of Impeachment)

Trump was accused of withholding military aide from Ukraine unless the country announced an investigation into Vice President Joe Biden’s family dealings in the country.

In addition to his experience with Ukraine, Dayton speaks German and Russian. His last post before leaving the U.S. military was to serve as security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, according to Politico.

The Senate has not announced when it will vote on Dayton’s nomination.