Russian officials have informed United States counterparts that they prefer Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg not be involved in top-level negotiations to end the war, according to a U.S. official and another individual familiar with the discussions.
In recent weeks, Kellogg has been absent from critical meetings, including a session in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and a Ukrainian delegation. He was also not present during a high-level U.S.-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia in February.
It remains unclear whether Kellogg’s absence is directly tied to Russia’s request or when the request was made. According to the U.S. official, the request has not changed the U.S. approach, noting that Kellogg’s senior staff member, Eli Rosner, attended the most recent Saudi meeting.
The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt emphasized Kellogg’s importance in the peace efforts.
“President Trump has utilized the talents of multiple senior administration officials to assist in bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution,” Hewitt said Thursday evening.
The war, which escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has caused hundreds of thousands of casualties, displaced millions, and devastated Ukrainian cities, intensifying tensions between Moscow and the West.
During the Saudi talks, the U.S. and Ukraine agreed in principle to a 30-day ceasefire, though Russian President Vladimir Putin later suggested significant adjustments were necessary.
The Kremlin’s request to remove Kellogg — first reported by NBC News — follows complaints from some former Russian officials who view him as overly sympathetic to Ukraine.
A retired lieutenant general, Kellogg has been more vocal than some Trump administration figures in criticizing Russian military actions. For example, after a Christmas Day attack on Ukrainian cities, Kellogg wrote on X:
“Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day,” he posted on Dec. 25. “Launching large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lord’s birth is wrong.”
Despite his criticism of Russian aggression, Kellogg remains a staunch supporter of Trump’s Ukraine policies, including a recent decision to pause certain intelligence-sharing efforts with Kyiv.
Having served as chief of staff to the National Security Council during Trump’s first term and as national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, Kellogg has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and several NATO leaders.
While some Trump allies privately view Kellogg as overly hawkish, others argue that having advisers with varied perspectives strengthens Trump’s foreign policy approach.
(REUTERS)
