The Trump administration has tapped a former army special operations officer with significant business experience who once oversaw a large U.S.-Russia investment forum to manage Europe and Russia policy at the National Security Council, two U.S. officials said.

The appointment of Charles McLaughlin, an alumnus of President Donald Trump's first term, is further evidence that the president is hungry to advance U.S. business interests in Russia and Ukraine - even as the conflict between the two nations continues unabated.