Trump’s new special envoy for Ukraine and Russia is going to Kyiv
18 December 11:35
President-elect Donald Trump’s new Ukraine and Russia envoy, Keith Kellogg, will travel to Kyiv and several other European capitals in early January as the incoming administration tries to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible. Reuters reported this, citing two sources with knowledge of the trip’s planning, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
It is noted that retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg does not plan to visit Moscow during this trip. Instead, he will visit senior leaders in Kyiv, and his team is working to organize meetings with leaders in other European capitals such as Rome and Paris, the sources said. One of the sources cautioned that the planning for the trip has not yet been finalized and the itinerary may change.
The meetings are expected to focus on “fact-finding” on behalf of the new Trump administration, rather than active negotiations. Nevertheless, the planned trip illustrates the urgency that the newly elected US president attaches to ending the war in Ukraine.
As you know, Trump promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, if not sooner. Former intelligence and national security officials have expressed doubts that this could happen, in part because the Russian president may have few reasons to sit down at the negotiating table, at least on terms acceptable to Kyiv.
On December 13, US President-elect Donald Trump’s special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, said on Fox that Russia’s war against Ukraine could end in the coming months. He also said that Trump’s team could hold talks with representatives of Ukraine and Russia.
“When it comes to Ukraine and Russia, I do believe that everything will be resolved within the next few months because the only person who can do that is President Donald Trump, and he will do it,” Keith Kellogg emphasized.
When asked about possible visits to Europe, Russia or Ukraine, Kellogg said that the Trump team is “making plans to go and just listen” to the views of the parties, as Trump’s representatives do not yet have the authority to negotiate on behalf of the United States.
“Our job is to help the president-elect succeed for the American people. And we are going to do that. We’re going to bring this war in Europe to a conclusion, a successful conclusion for the American people as well,” the official added.
Keith Kellogg emphasized that it is the US president-elect who will make the final decisions on this issue.
