We’ll be listening: Trump’s special envoy’s first statements in Kyiv
19 February 12:19
Today, February 19, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kyiv. This was reported by Suspilne and published a video from the capital’s railway station, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
At the station, Kellogg was met by US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink.
Commenting on his visit to Kyiv, Kellogg said that “this is a chance to have good potential negotiations.”
“We will listen. We are ready to provide what is needed. We understand the need for security guarantees. Part of my mission is to listen. Then I’ll go back to the United States and talk to President Trump to make sure we’re on the same page,” Kellogg emphasized.
He said that he truly believes that “the war would not have started if Trump had been president then.”
“He understands that people are suffering, he understands the destruction. And we want it to end,” the special envoy added.
Kellogg’s visit to Ukraine
Keith Kellogg arrived in Ukraine for a three-day visit.
The special envoy did not say whether he would go to the frontline, as President Zelensky said, because, as he claims, the program has not yet been finalized.
The day before, he was in Warsaw and met with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Negotiations in Saudi Arabia
on February 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Assistant Prime Minister Yuri Ushakov met in Saudi Arabia with an American delegation, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Volz, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
After the talks, the US State Department reported that the delegations agreed to “eliminate irritants” in bilateral relations and continue to work on preparing talks on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The two sides also agreed to appoint high-level groups for further talks on Ukraine.
Jackie Heinrich, Fox News White House correspondent, reported that the US and Russia are discussing a three-stage peace plan for Ukraine, which consists of the following stages:
- A ceasefire;
- Holding elections in Ukraine;
- Conclusion of a peace agreement.
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Trump’s position on Ukraine
During the election campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly said that he would stop the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. This deadline has already passed.
Also during the election, the media spread the so-called “Trump Plan”. The plan was that the United States would use its influence to stop the war, taking into account the status quo. To do this, Trump would force Putin and Zelenskyy to sit down at the negotiating table. If Putin does not agree to negotiate, the United States will give Ukraine all the weapons it needs to win on the battlefield. If Zelenskyy refuses to negotiate, the United States will completely stop helping Ukraine.
This plan, in its various variations, included a provision that Russia would retain the territories it temporarily occupied and that Ukraine would not join NATO.
However, later Trump seemed to “forget” about this plan. In particular, he voiced scenarios in which he would force Russia to capitulate due to the decline in world oil prices.
After Trump was elected President of the United States, one of his advisors, Brian Lanza, said that Ukraine should forget about Crimea. Trump’s entourage, however, was quick to deny this statement and said that Lanza could not speak on his behalf.
Currently, the US Special Representative for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is talking about 100 days within which he wants to reach some kind of agreement. Of these, 30 days have already passed. During this time, the US presidential administration has established contact with the Kremlin, an American envoy has traveled to Moscow, and Trump has spoken to Putin on the phone and allegedly agreed to meet in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, in exchange for military support, US President Donald Trump demanded $500 billion worth of rare earth metals from Ukraine. He said that the US should have access to Ukraine’s natural resources, regardless of whether Kyiv manages to reach a peace deal with Russia. Ukraine sent its version of the agreement to the US, but the latter rejected it, accusing Ukraine of refusing to sign the agreement and calling the decision short-sighted.
