Trump Adjusts General Keith Kellogg’s Role Amid Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that General Keith Kellogg's role has been narrowed to focus solely on Ukraine after Russian officials sought to exclude him from discussions on ending the war.

"General Kellogg, a Highly Respected Military Expert, will deal directly with President (Volodymyr Zelenskiy) and Ukrainian leadership," Trump stated on Truth Social. He emphasized Kellogg’s strong ties with Kyiv, reinforcing his role in U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Sources told Reuters that Russian officials expressed concerns about Kellogg’s involvement, claiming he was too sympathetic to Ukraine. As a result, Kellogg, 80, has been absent from recent high-level discussions, including a meeting in Saudi Arabia where U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged with a Ukrainian delegation.

During this meeting, the U.S. and Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in principle. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin later stated that the ceasefire proposal required significant revisions.

Kellogg was also absent from a key February meeting with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, highlighting ongoing tensions over his role. His reassignment underscores the complexities in diplomatic negotiations as the U.S. navigates its approach to ending the conflict while addressing concerns from both Kyiv and Moscow.

With peace talks still facing obstacles, Kellogg’s direct engagement with Ukraine signals a shift in U.S. strategy. As diplomatic efforts continue, his exclusion from broader negotiations raises questions about future U.S. involvement in shaping a resolution to the war.