MUNICH, Germany – Donald Trump’s Ukrainian envoy Keith Kellogg told Europeans on Saturday that inclusion in talks to end the war in Ukraine “will not happen.”
Kellogg dropped a bomb at a security conference in Munich after a week of Europeans scrambling to emphasize that no peace negotiations in Ukraine would occur without Kiev or them.
Asked if Europeans should have a role in future lectures, Kellogg said he “is from a school of realism, but that won’t happen.”
The comments are the clearest confirmation by senior officials of the US administration, who prepare Ukraine’s post-security guarantees, but who intend Europe to follow consultations from bystanders.
“To my European friend, I say: not complaining that you might be at the table, but by coming up with concrete suggestions, ideas, ramp-up spending.” said Kellogg.
Kellogg will soon set out on a tour around Ukraine and all NATO countries to discuss the talks.
Washington also sent requests to the European capital to provide detailed proposals on arms, peacekeeping forces and security arrangements that can be provided to Ukraine as part of security assurances, the FT reported on Saturday. .
Kellogg said that too many countries’ involvement had destroyed the process in previous peace negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, including those under the Minsk style where France and Germany were at the table.
“What we don’t want to do is take part in a large group discussion,” Kellogg said. Instead, he added that Trump’s strategy was to trade “days and weeks” rather than longer time frames.
Kellogg also said he views Washington as an intermediary rather than an alliance or partner in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak confirmed earlier this week to a reporter who spoke to Kellogg before this month’s envoy was expected to travel to Ukraine this month. The exact date has not been announced yet.
Kellogg’s upcoming visit “provides comprehensive information about Russian attacks on our country,” Yermak said on Telegram, stating on the battlefield situation, Ukrainian civilian safety and meetings at the Munich Security Conference. He added that he explained to Kellogg.
After Trump’s election in November, Ukrainian officials were competing to quickly establish ties with the new administration, but things were dragged out.
The first trip announced that Trump’s inauguration would take place before it didn’t happen.
(OM)
