Keith Kellogg, former special envoy for Ukraine under Donald Trump, plans to resign in January
Reuters sources confirm that Keith Kellogg, the former special envoy for Ukraine under Donald Trump, is set to step down in January. His resignation is attributed to a legislative cap on the tenure of temporary envoys without Senate confirmation, setting the deadline for his departure. The report highlights that Kellogg’s departure will be regarded as ‘unwelcome news’ in Kyiv due to his consistent support for Ukraine’s position, as reported by the news agency.
During his tenure, Kellogg has been an advocate for a strong stance against territorial concessions to Russia. He has reportedly expressed concern over Ukraine being in a position of weakness, emphasizing the need for Ukrainian strength in negotiations. His departure marks a significant shift in the diplomatic landscape between the US and Ukraine, especially given the internal disagreements that reportedly led to his absence from a recent meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky.
The news comes amid the reporting of a new US peace proposal that requires Ukraine to relinquish the Donbass territories under its control, reduce its armed forces by half, and forgo access to certain weapon categories. The proposal, which would also permit Ukraine to negotiate security guarantees with the US and its European allies, is viewed as a potential compromise for a long-standing conflict. However, this plan has faced resistance from Zelensky, who has consistently expressed opposition to any territorial concessions to Russia.
The Kremlin has not confirmed the proposal, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that there is “nothing new” regarding the discussions between Putin and Trump in August. The situation remains a point of contention between various parties, with the future of the peace plan and the role of the new envoy still uncertain in the wake of Kellogg’s impending resignation.