The Wall Street Journal reports that newly elected US President Donald Trump has tasked retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, the special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, with ending the war in Ukraine within 100 days. However, the newspaper notes that few believe this timeline is achievable.
Kellogg is authorised to advise Trump on negotiations to end the war. However, it remains unclear whether the president genuinely values his advice. Kellogg’s former colleagues suggest that his military background may influence Trump as he considers the implications of increasing or cutting aid to Ukraine.
That said, critics point out that Kellogg lacks diplomatic experience, making it unlikely that he will play a direct role in negotiations with Russia.
“Trump enjoys his company and views him as extremely loyal, but he has never held significant political sway. He’s not going to propose anything that conflicts with Trump’s views,” a former National Security Council official, who served during Trump’s administration, told reporters under the condition of anonymity.
Recently, Kellogg has advocated for increasing military aid to Ukraine, arguing that it could compel Russia to end the war. He has also praised the Biden administration’s decision to supply Ukraine with advanced weaponry, suggesting it provides Trump with leverage in future negotiations.
Kellogg’s colleagues claim he was appointed as Ukraine envoy after proposing a peace plan last year. The plan, critical of the Biden administration, accused it of delaying military support while provoking Moscow with discussions of Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Published by the pro-Trump think tank America First Policy Institute, the plan called for a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement, employing a combination of incentives and pressures to secure agreements from both sides. For Ukraine, the plan proposed renouncing NATO membership, with a warning to cut off military aid if Kyiv refused to negotiate. For Russia, it suggested easing certain sanctions in exchange for signing a peace agreement.