Kellogg doesn’t see Europe physically at negotiating table on Ukraine
Photo: Keith Kellogg (Getty Images)
US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, does not see Europe taking a direct seat at the negotiating table for resolving the war in Ukraine. However, he assured that European interests would still be taken into account.
At the 8th Ukrainian Lunch on the Margins of the Munich Security Conference, Kellogg emphasized that the US wants to avoid the issues of the Minsk format, where too many participants were involved in negotiations without real influence on the peace process.
"Part of the problem we looked at Minsk-2 is that there were a lot of people at the table. But they had no ability to execute some type of peace process and they failed miserably. We are not going to go down that path,'" Kellogg stated.
While European interests will be considered, Kellogg ruled out the physical presence of European representatives in the negotiations.
"I want to make sure when you say 'at the table' you define the term. Do you mean you are sitting at the table three? Or all of your interests are brought into the discussion? Then the answer is yes. If it's sitting, like you're sitting right there, then that's going to be a different story," he clarified.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard responded to Kellogg's statement, arguing that if Europe is expected to send troops to Ukraine, then it must be part of the negotiation process.
"You are now expecting answers from us about whether we can provide our (European - ed.) soldiers on the ground (in Ukraine - ed.). If you want those answers, then we really need to be at the (negotiating - ed.) table. If we are supposed to be on the ground," she said.
Tensions between Trump and Europe
Western media report that European leaders fear being sidelined in the Ukraine peace negotiations. EU countries insist that Europe must be involved, especially if Donald Trump seeks European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also stressed the importance of Europe's participation in the talks.
Kellogg previously stated that the US does not want to exclude anyone from the peace process and aims to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged Europe to urgently develop its strategy for Ukraine and security. Otherwise, he warned, decisions will be made by other players.
