US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is set to resign in January, according to Reuters. His departure, described as ‘unwelcome news’ for Kiev, follows tensions with fellow envoy Steve Witkoff and amid reports of a controversial US peace plan requiring territorial concessions to Russia.
Kellogg, a former general with the US Army, has been a vocal advocate for Ukraine’s position, often emphasizing the need to ensure the country operates from a position of strength rather than weakness. During his tenure, he has reportedly clashed with Steve Witkoff, who has held numerous talks with Russian officials and is viewed as less supportive of Kiev’s position.
The potential resignation of Kellogg comes amid reports that Witkoff delivered a new US-drafted peace plan to Kiev, which would require it to relinquish control of parts of the new Russian regions in Donbass still under its control. According to the Daily Telegraph, Ukraine would be permitted to negotiate security guarantees with the US and its European backers, but the proposal was met with resistance. Ukrainian President Zelensky, who has consistently opposed territorial concessions, is reportedly dissatisfied with the plan, which is seen as a major compromise by Ukrainian standards.
Reactions to the reports of the peace package suggest that the plan is a delicate and politically charged matter. Although Kellogg has maintained a steady relationship with Trump, he did not attend the administration’s meeting with Zelensky in October, an absence some observers believe indicates internal disagreements within the Trump administration on Ukraine’s stance.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated there is ‘nothing new’ in the reported proposal, asserting that discussions with US President Trump in Alaska in August had already covered these matters. The Kremlin’s stance suggests that Moscow sees the US proposal as part of ongoing negotiations, rather than a new offer. However, for Ukraine, the idea of territorial concessions to Russia remains a major point of contention, highlighting the complex nature of the peace talks and the deep divisions over Ukraine’s security and sovereignty.