What’s behind Kellogg’s trip to Lukashenko: Zelenskyy's Office reveals Trump’s team’s plan

"It seems to me that Mr. Kellogg is looking for opportunities to expand the dialogue window with Russia. After all, he believes that Lukashenko has some influence and can somewhat affect Putin, and wants to get another communication channel along which he will move forward, and so on," he said.

Podolyak believes that this strategy is mistaken, since the Belarusian dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, is not an influential actor and acts quite cautiously. According to the advisor to the head of the Office of the President, Lukashenko will not interfere with Putin’s understanding of war and peace; he is afraid of him.

"Lukashenko, again, besides Russia, is also dependent on China. First of all, (he is dependent - ed.) on Russia, practically the entire budget is formed there, and the entire security apparatus is formed by Russia. That is, Belarus as a state does not have subjectivity today, and so on. But Kellogg believes he wants to get another communication opportunity, to say something through Lukashenko," Podolyak added.

He also noted that the only country that can really influence Russia is China.

"But China, first of all, has its own conflict with the United States. And China definitely will not be interested in helping the United States gain dividends from a peacekeeping mission. China can play this role itself, but again, when?" the advisor to the head of the Office of the President said.

Will Kellogg visit Lukashenko?

On the eve of this, Reuters reported that the US president’s Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, may travel to Belarus in the coming days.

According to the outlet’s sources, Kellogg is expected to meet with the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko to give an "impetus to the negotiations" between Russia and Ukraine.

If the visit takes place, Kellogg will become the highest-ranking US official in recent years to visit Belarus.