Trump's Special Envoy Discusses Ukraine Conflict in Key Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, met with Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington, Oksana Markarova, for their first official discussion. Markarova described the meeting as a “thorough discussion” on U.S.-Ukraine relations and efforts to end the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Ukraine is working to strengthen ties with the Trump administration, which has expressed a desire for a swift resolution to the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, had communicated with Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and that his team had been in contact with Kellogg. Plans for a U.S. delegation visit to Ukraine have already been scheduled.

Kellogg recently told Reuters that Washington supports Ukraine in holding elections, possibly by the end of the year, provided Kyiv and Moscow reach a truce. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to question Zelenskiy’s legitimacy, arguing that his extended tenure beyond his mandate undermines his authority. Zelenskiy, however, insists elections cannot occur under martial law.

In a related development, Leonid Slutsky, a senior Russian lawmaker, revealed that preparations for a meeting between Trump and Putin are in an “advanced stage,” with potential dates in February or March. The anticipated discussions could influence the geopolitical landscape and ongoing negotiations for peace in Ukraine.

The U.S. remains a key player in diplomatic efforts to resolve the nearly three-year conflict, with Ukraine seeking continued support from Washington.