Keith Kellogg arrives in Kyiv. Details of US special envoy's visit

Contents

• Main points about Keith Kellogg's visit to Ukraine
• Purpose of the visit
• Program of the visit
• Ukraine's expectations
• Kellogg's position on ending Russia's war against Ukraine

Kellogg was met at the capital's railway station by US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink. Trump's special envoy made a short statement.

“We are listening. We understand the need for security guarantees … And part of my mission is to sit and listen … go back to the United States, talk to President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and the rest of the team, just to ensure that we get this one right,” he said.

Main points about Keith Kellogg's visit to Ukraine

US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, left for Kyiv on February 18 by night train from Poland.

The American general said that he would arrive in Kyiv by train from Warsaw on the morning of February 19 and stay in Ukraine for three days. During the visit, he is scheduled to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Trump special envoy said the day before that the trip to Ukraine was still being finalized but confirmed that the answer was yes. He also stated that he would have the opportunity to meet with President Zelenskyy, adding that he would be in Ukraine for three days, and this would not be his first time there.

Kellogg will visit Ukraine as part of his European tour, which includes a trip to the Munich Security Conference and talks with NATO and the EU.

His visit was announced for early January 2025, before Donald Trump took office, but was postponed due to legal factors.

Keith Kellogg already visited Ukraine in 2023 but as a private citizen. During his first visit, he visited Kharkiv and other cities affected by the war.

Purpose of the visit

The purpose of Kellogg's trip to Europe and his visit to Ukraine was described by the US State Department as advancing President Trump's goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war and ensuring peace through strength.

The Department stated in a statement on its website that Special Envoy Kellogg was committed to pursuing the tough diplomacy needed to achieve the President's goals.

In Ukraine, Keith Kellogg is to meet with government officials and citizens who have bravely withstood almost three years of war, the State Department explained.

Trump's special envoy noted that during his visit to Kyiv, he would build on the talks between US Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Kellogg called the talks constructive.

The Ukrainian and US teams in Munich agreed to continue working on a document on economic partnership between the countries and discussed preparing steps to end the war.

Photo: Keith Kellogg goes to Europe (x.com/SPE_Kellogg)

Keith Kellogg said that his visit would result in a comparison of the parties' positions on achieving peace in Ukraine. Separate information will be provided by another representative of the White House, Steven Witkoff, who attended the US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia on February 18.

According to Kellogg, the results of his trips with Witkoff will be discussed with US President Donald Trump, and then a framework will be created to work with.

Program of the visit

The US special envoy did not announce the details of his several-day visit to Kyiv, except for the announcement of a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

At the same time, the Ukrainian president said that Keith Kellogg may meet with the military, diplomats, and representatives of the Ministry of Defense during his trip.

The American general is likely to meet with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi and brigade commanders.

Zelenskyy also said that he wants to invite Trump's envoy to visit the front.

Ukraine's expectations

The topic of discussion at the meeting between Zelenskyy and Kellogg should be security guarantees.

Zelenskyy also expects the American side to study the situation in Ukraine in depth during Keith Kellogg's visit.

Zelenskyy explained his proposal to Kellogg to visit the front line, saying that he wanted him to study all the issues and details, and talk to their military and diplomats first so that he could see everything at different levels

The President of Ukraine also noted that after Kellogg's return to the United States, the prospect of his meeting with US President Donald Trump may become clearer.

Kellogg's position on ending Russia's war against Ukraine

Back during Donald Trump's election campaign, Keith Kellogg became known as the author of the future White House administration's “peace plan” to end the war in Ukraine. This plan included freezing the conflict on the contact line, a possible postponement of Ukraine's accession to NATO, etc.

After being officially appointed to the position of the US President's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg stated that he was ready to work for peace through force, defending the interests of the United States.

He also expressed the opinion that both sides would have to make concessions to end the war. He allowed for elections in Ukraine to be held by the end of 2025 and did not rule out tougher sanctions against Russia in case of refusal to negotiate.

At the Munich Security Conference, Keith Kellogg publicly committed himself to engaging all parties to end the war in Ukraine within 180 days. He suggested that a ceasefire and sustainable peace could be achieved within a few months, not years.

The American general also said that no peace agreement would be imposed on Ukraine and that the decision would be made by the Ukrainian side. According to Kellogg, the United States will listen to all parties and will facilitate security guarantees for Ukraine.

At the same time, he noted that Ukraine may lose its territories as part of a peace agreement, but this does not have to be recognized at the legal level.

Sources: US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US State Department website, Reuters, and Interfax-Ukraine.