Title: Renowned Retired General Keith Kellogg Nominated as Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia
In a significant development on November 27, President-elect Donald Trump has selected Keith Kellogg, a decorated retired army lieutenant general and longtime defense policy consultant to Trump, as his appointee for the special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. The announcement was made via Truth Social where Trump also emphasized his commitment to ensuring global peace and security.
Kellogg has a stellar record in both military and business spheres and has served in crucial National Security roles during Trump’s first tenure. Always a strong supporter of Trump, Kellogg has been instrumental in strategizing defense policies since the inception of the Trump administration.
This nomination follows Trump’s critique during the 2024 presidential campaign about the significant funds that the United States has invested in Ukraine, following Russia’s aggressive invasion in February 2022. Trump has made bold declarations about his ability to resolve the conflict within a day of his return to the White House, implying that Ukraine might have to concede territories currently under Russian control.
Kellogg has already proposed a plan to end the conflict, which involves freezing the current battle lines and pushing both Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiation table. As per a report by Reuters in June, Kellogg’s strategy involves pressurizing both parties to negotiate by leveraging U.S. support.
The plan suggests that Ukraine’s NATO membership could be withdrawn as an incentive for Russia to negotiate, and reinstated as a penalty if Russia remains uncooperative. Kellogg, now 80, previously stated that the cessation of the Russia-Ukraine war would necessitate robust American leadership to broker a peace deal and instantly halt the hostilities between the two nations.
In a research paper for the America First Policy Institute, a think tank formed post Trump’s term in 2021, Kellogg emphasized that the U.S would continue to arm Ukraine and bolster its defenses to deter Russia from further aggression and future attacks following a cease-fire or peace agreement. However, future U.S. military aid would be contingent on Ukraine participating in peace talks with Russia.
Kellogg has held numerous positions during Trump’s first term, including serving as the chief of staff on Trump’s national security council and as the national-security advisor to then-Vice President Mike Pence.
Many experts see this appointment as a clear signal towards enforcing a cease-fire and conflict resolution which Trump promises to achieve within a day. Despite the challenges, experts like Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Relations expect the negotiation process to be difficult but not impossible, with Trump’s unique strategy of personal diplomacy playing a crucial role in the deal-making process.
However, Russia warns that any decision by Trump’s incoming administration to cut support for Ukraine would be detrimental to the Ukrainian Army. In a recent UN Security Council meeting, Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky accused the Biden administration of trying to create chaos in Russia and with the new team in the White House.
With these escalating tensions, the world keenly watches the developments in this geopolitical chess game, as the appointed special envoy, Keith Kellogg, takes on the challenging task of resolving the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
[This article is based on a report by Reuters]
