German ambassador to Ukraine to lead foreign intelligence service

The German ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Jäger, is to become the new president of the country's foreign intelligence service, dpa learnt on Wednesday.

The 60-year-old will succeed Bruno Kahl as chief of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND).

The German Cabinet made the decision on Wednesday, government sources told dpa.

Jäger, a top diplomat, has extensive experience as an ambassador in crisis regions, in the Chancellery and also in business.

His predecessor Kahl, 62, had been president of the BND since 2016.

He is now set to become the German representative to the Holy See in Rome, a post he reportedly has sought for some time.

The BND is one of Germany's three intelligence services, along with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which focuses on domestic intelligence, and the Military Counterintelligence Service, which specializes in the armed forces.