The Pentagon’s top official for Russian relations is resigning as the U.S. wrestles with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s moves in Syria and Ukraine.
Evelyn Farkas, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, will step down at the end of October after five years at the Defense Department, according to a published report.
A defense official said Farkas will be difficult to replace.
“There are not a lot of Europe experts in this administration who have a long record of accomplishment,” the official told Politico. “There’s no doubt this leaves the Pentagon weaker in terms of its policy-making on European issues.”
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President Obama met with Putin on Monday during a U.N. General Assembly Meeting to talk about aggressive actions in both Ukraine and Syria. In Ukraine, Russian-backed separatists have repeatedly broken a ceasefire and have occupied the Crimean peninsula. In Syria, the Russians have sent military equipment and advisers to bolster the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which the administration believes must go but Putin said is important to retaining stability.
The news of Farkas stepping down comes as retired Marine Gen. John Allen, who serves as the administration’s envoy to the international coalition fighting the Islamic State, is also planning to leave this fall as the campaign against the terrorist group struggles to gain ground, the Washington Post reported, though the administration has so far not publicly confirmed his resignation.
