Trump picks retired three-star General as envoy on Ukraine war
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US President-elect Donald Trump chooses a key defense advisor and retired three-star General as his envoy on the Ukraine war as he prepares to take office.
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Keith Kellogg, AFPI Co-Chair of the Center for American Security, takes note during a Senate Armed Services Committee full committee hearing on the conflict in Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington, United States (AP)
US President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he has appointed retired three-star General Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
Kellogg, known as one of the architects of the "America First" national security agenda, will assume the role in February as the Ukraine war enters its third year.
According to the Associated Press, the 80-year-old Kellogg has long been a key defense advisor to Trump. He previously served as National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, Chief of Staff of the National Security Council, and Executive Secretary for the National Security Council.
In an article published in April, Kellogg emphasized that resolving the war between Russia and Ukraine requires strong leadership that prioritizes the interests of the United States, proposing a peace agreement to halt hostilities between the two sides.
Kellogg's plan for ending the war involves freezing the battle lines at their prevailing locations and forcing both Kiev and Moscow to the negotiating table, Reuters reported in June.
He drafted his plan for Ukraine alongside Fred Fleitz, who also served as chief of staff to the National Security Council under Trump.
The US, based on their strategy, would tell Ukraine that it would only get more US weapons if it entered peace talks. Washington would at the same time warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would result in increased US support for Ukraine. Moreover, Ukraine's NATO membership bid would be taken off the table for the immediate future.
Meanwhile, Congressman Michael Waltz of Florida, Trump's proposed National Security Advisor, tweeted on Wednesday: "Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution."
Congratulations to my friend @generalkellogg on his appointment to be President Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) November 27, 2024
Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.
Trump was contemplating appointing Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, as a special envoy for the Ukraine war.
Grenell, who previously served as Trump’s ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence during his 2017-2021 term, would take on a pivotal role in Trump's efforts to end the war, should he be chosen for the position, the news agency emphasized.
But the sources also said that while Trump is seriously considering the creation of a special envoy position, he may ultimately decide against it. They also pointed out that if the role is created, he could choose someone else, and there is no certainty that Grenell would accept the position.
Trump vowed on the campaign trail to swiftly end the conflict, although he has not said how he will do it.
