Ukraine war: Trump envoy urges Europe to prepare for reduced US role
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As the Ukraine conflict evolves, Donald Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, calls on Europe to brace for a future with diminished US involvement.
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Keith Kellogg, the US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, enters the hall for a meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, Ukraine, February 20, 2025 (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
As the Ukraine conflict continues into its third year, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said on Friday, September 19, that Europe should prepare to take on greater responsibility for Ukraine aid in the event of reduced support from Washington.
“Better to be prepared. I don't think America will withdraw fully, but it's best that Europe stands on its own two feet,” Kellogg told The Telegraph.
The special envoy added, “at this point, Europe is almost self-sufficient in sustaining Ukraine's war effort through the cohesion we haven't seen before.”
Kellogg’s remarks reflect growing speculation over what a potential second Trump administration might mean for US engagement in the war. Trump has repeatedly criticized the scale of US military spending abroad and called on European allies to “pay their fair share.”
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Russia warns NATO over continued arms supplies to Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s warnings over Western military support for Ukraine, stating that any shipment of weapons to Ukrainian forces would be considered a legitimate target.
Lavrov’s ministry said that NATO member states were “playing with fire” by continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine, warning that such actions escalated tensions and risked broader confrontation.
The Russian foreign minister further accused the United States and NATO of being “directly involved” in the Ukraine conflict, citing both arms shipments and military training programs.
“The US and NATO are directly involved in the conflict, not only by supplying weapons but also by training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy, and other countries,” Lavrov said.
Moscow has repeatedly argued that the flow of weapons and equipment from the West undermines the possibility of diplomatic solutions to the war.
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