Title: Trump’s Nominee for Special Envoy to Ukraine and Russia: Keith Kellogg

Donald Trump, the projected U.S. President, has recently announced the nomination of Keith Kellogg as a special envoy for Ukraine and Russia on November 27. Kellogg, a former army lieutenant general, has served as a top defense advisor to Trump for a considerable time.

Kellogg has a long-standing and illustrious career in the military and business sectors. “From the very beginning, Kellogg has stood by my side”, stated Trump on Truth Social, a social media platform. Trump further emphasized his commitment to ensuring peace and world security by asserting, “Together, our aim is to secure peace through strength and make America and the world safe again”.

This nomination follows Trump’s critique during the 2024 presidential campaign about the massive funds that the U.S. has injected into Ukraine since Russia’s full-fledged invasion in February 2022. Trump has also hinted at the possibility of ending the war within 24 hours of reclaiming the White House. This statement has provoked interpretations suggesting Ukraine’s potential surrender of territory currently occupied by Russia.

The proposed strategy by Kellogg to resolve the conflict involves freezing the current battle lines and compelling both Kyiv and Moscow to participate in negotiations. As reported by Reuters in June, Kellogg has suggested that if Ukraine doesn’t agree to negotiate, U.S. support may cease. On the other hand, he has proposed that if Putin refuses to negotiate, the U.S. could provide Ukraine with the necessary resources to retaliate.

As part of the incentives for Russia to cooperate, the option of Ukraine joining NATO would be off the table. However, it could be reinstated as a penalty for non-compliance. Earlier this year, the 80-year-old Kellogg noted that ending the Russia-Ukraine war would necessitate strong leadership to deliver a peace deal and promptly halt hostilities between the conflicting parties.

Kellogg’s suggestions were part of a research paper for the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established after Trump’s departure from office in 2021. The paper also suggested that the U.S. would continue to arm Ukraine and reinforce its defenses to deter further Russian advances. However, the future American military aid would be conditional on Ukraine’s participation in peace talks with Russia.

Kellogg held several positions in Trump’s first term, including chief of staff on Trump’s national security council and national-security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence. The appointment of Kellogg indicates Trump’s intent to enforce a cease-fire and conflict settlement, which he claimed he could achieve within 24 hours.

However, negotiations are anticipated to be challenging due to the divergent interests of the two sides. Russia believes it is winning the war, while Ukraine seeks to reclaim all its territory, including Crimea, and demands reparations and war crimes. However, the Trump administration has indicated that they would leverage U.S. aid to pressure both sides into negotiations.

In contrast, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s Deputy Ambassador, warned during a UN Security Council meeting 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 creating a “mess” through its increased support to Ukraine, which risked pushing the world towards a global nuclear conflict.

In response, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood stated that Washington would continue to offer security assistance to Ukraine to strengthen its capabilities, including air defense, and put Ukraine in a favorable position on the battlefield.

{With insights from Reuters}