Washington — President-elect Donald Trump has named retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, he announced Wednesday.
Kellogg served as chief of staff of the National Security Council and national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence during Trump’s first term. He will serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia ahead of the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Trump heralded Kellogg as sent in a social media post, writing that he “had a distinguished military and business career, including serving in highly sensitive national security roles in my first administration.”
“He has been with me from the beginning! Together we will bring PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH and make America and the world safe again!” wrote the president-elect.
Trump’s return to the White House raises questions about the future of United States involvement in the war in Ukraine. The United States, under the leadership of President Biden, has provided approximately $64.1 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its invasion in 2022, and approximately $66.9 billion in military assistance since Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, according to the State Department.
The president-elect, however, criticized Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy, calling him “the greatest salesman of all time” in June for insisting that the United States continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to push back Russian aggression. Trump said he would resolve the war before taking office for his second term, and said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he had been president.
Trump and Zelensky spoke by phone after the president-elect defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the election earlier this month. The Ukrainian leader said on social media that the call was “excellent” and praised his “tremendous campaign” which made his victory possible.
“We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering American leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Trump, meanwhile, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “wise” and suggested in February that he would “encourage” Russia “to do whatever it wants” with NATO member countries that have failed to meet the alliance’s defense spending targets.
Retirement. General HR McMaster, who served as Trump’s national security adviser during his first term, said Sunday on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that the coming months will be “really critical” in determining the “next phase” of the war in Ukraine.
McMaster, a CBS News contributor, said Russia and Ukraine are both incentivized to make “as many gains as possible on the battlefield before the new Trump administration comes in,” as both countries seek leverage in negotiations.
