Associated Press
Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and military commanders, as the U.S. shifted its policy away from years of efforts to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kellogg’s trip came a day after President Donald Trump suggested that Kyiv was to blame for the war, which enters its fourth year next week, and talks between top American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia sidelined Ukraine and its European supporters.
Trump’s comments are likely to vex Ukrainian officials, who have urged the world to help them fight Russia’s full-scale invasion that began Feb. 24, 2022.
The battlefield has also brought grim news for Ukraine in recent months. A relentless onslaught in eastern areas by Russia’s bigger army is grinding down Ukrainian forces, which are slowly but steadily being pushed backward at some points on the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.
Trump told reporters at his Florida residence that Ukraine “should have never started” the war and “could have made a deal” to prevent it.
Kellogg said his visit was “a chance to have some good, substantial talks.” Zelenskyy canceled his planned Wednesday trip to Saudi Arabia in what some analysts saw as an attempt to deny legitimacy to the U.S.-Russia talks about the future of his country.
American officials have signaled that Ukraine’s hopes of joining NATO in order to ward off Russian aggression after reaching a possible peace agreement won’t happen. Zelenskyy says any settlement will require U.S. security commitments to keep Russia at bay.
“We understand the need for security guarantees,” Kellogg said in comments carried by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Novyny on his arrival at Kyiv train station.
“It’s very clear to us the importance of the sovereignty of this nation and the independence of this nation as well. … Part of my mission is to sit and listen,” the retired three-star general said.
Kellogg said he would convey what he learns on his visit to Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “and ensure that we get this one right.”
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press
10 comments
Skeptic
February 19, 2025 at 8:21 am
The optics were strange in Saudi Arabia as Rubio appeared to be third banana at the table with the other GOP surrender monkeys.
Peachy
February 19, 2025 at 8:36 am
Question? Did Blinken accomplish anything while Sec of State or was he Putin’s and Iran’s beotch?
Ocean Joe
February 19, 2025 at 9:32 am
Blinken was a weak worm, but I dont recall him throwing an ally to the wolves. Trump did the same thing to Afghanistan, negotiated with the enemy, bypassing the Afghan govt. out of the process. Of course Trump and possibly you think Russia is not an enemy.
It didnt even take him a month to trade 50 years of American dominance for isolationist capitulation with a touch of attempted robbery of minerals on the way out the door.
TJC
February 19, 2025 at 10:22 am
whatabout whatabout whatabout whatabout whatabout whatabout.
Good lord, man, you are a broken record.
What about what is happening now, right now, in this administration. Stick to the topic.
Michael K
February 19, 2025 at 8:45 am
Trump is now a Russian sock puppet and Vance displayed his arrogant ignorance to our European allies. And now Trump has gone so far to blame Ukraine for the Russian invasion? That’s disgustingly beyond the pale even for Trump.
Poor Rubio, indeed, looked like a baby deer in headlights. Our allies are now our enemies and our adversaries appear to have bought our current president just like Musk did.
Ocean Joe
February 19, 2025 at 9:35 am
Rubio traded in everything he ever believed on a lemon. For his sake, hopefully he gets fired before the wheels come off.
TJC
February 19, 2025 at 10:29 am
No doubt the Trump devotees of this country believe that Trump is displaying his genius negotiating skills when he blames Ukraine for being invaded by Russia. He’s not. He’s capitulating, appeasing his idol Putin, selling out not only Ukraine but all of our European allies.
And for what, one might ask. No doubt at all about this: it is all about him. Either Putin really does have something on Trump, or Trump sees this as another chance to create the heater-skelter he craves in the hope it will push him to where he wants to be, President for life.
TJC
February 19, 2025 at 11:09 am
(that’s “helter-skelter,” not “heater-skelter” as my spellcheck insists.)
Ocean Joe
February 19, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Yes and Trump is doing to our foreign policy what Charles Manson did to those poor folks out in California.
Jose Manuel ROBLES
February 19, 2025 at 10:25 pm
Trump is wrong on SAIDING that UCRANIA STARTED THE. WAR. THEY ONLY PROTECT THEIR LAND AND FREEDOM.ANYBODY WOULD DO THE SAME IF A MAN BREAKS IN YOUR HOME DEFEND YOUR FAMILY…