On November 27, President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, assigned Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general with a history of advising Trump on defense, as his pick for the unique envoy role for Ukraine and Russia. Trump made this announcement on social media, where he praised Kellogg for his impressive military and business career that included critical national security roles during Trump’s first tenure as President.

Kellogg has been with Trump since the beginning, and they both aim to achieve peace through strength and make not only America, but the world, a safe place. This nomination follows Trump’s critique of America’s extensive financial assistance to Ukraine during his 2024 presidential campaign. This came in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Trump also claimed that he could resolve the war within a day of reclaiming the presidency. This statement was perceived as an indication that Ukraine might have to relinquish the territory that Russia presently occupies.

Kellogg has already proposed a strategy for ending the war, which involves maintaining the current battle lines and bringing Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiation table. According to reports, Kellogg suggested that if Ukraine refuses to negotiate, they would lose U.S. support. Conversely, if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to negotiate, the U.S. would provide Ukraine with all the resources required for their defense.

In Kellogg’s view, as an incentive for Russia to cooperate, Ukraine’s NATO membership would be put on hold. However, if Russia holds back, the membership would be revisited. Earlier this year, Kellogg stated that to end the Russia-Ukraine war, ‘America First’ leadership is needed to negotiate peace and immediately halt hostilities between the two nations.

He expressed these views in a research paper for the America First Policy Institute, a think tank formed after Trump left office in 2021. The document also stated that the U.S. would continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen its defenses to ensure Russia doesn’t attack after a cease-fire or peace agreement. However, future American military aid would require Ukraine to engage in peace talks with Russia.

Kellogg held various positions in Trump’s first term, including the chief of staff on Trump’s national security council and national-security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence.

Mikhail Alexseev, a professor of political science at San Diego State University, said Kellogg’s appointment indicated Trump’s intention to enforce a cease-fire and settle the conflict within 24 hours. He added that Kellogg would quickly identify if a peace proposal was unrealistic and would see through Putin’s history of breaking agreements.

Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy warned that any decision by Trump’s incoming administration to cut support for Ukraine would be a “death sentence” for the Ukrainian Army. He also accused the Biden administration of causing chaos in Russia and with the new team in the White House through its increased support to Ukraine.

During the same Security Council session, UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca highlighted recent Russian long-range missile strikes against Ukraine and called the use of ballistic missiles and related threats against Ukraine “a very dangerous, escalatory development.”

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood assured that Washington would “continue to surge security assistance to Ukraine to strengthen its capabilities, including air defense, and put Ukraine in the best possible position on the battlefield.”

[Reuters contributed to this report.]