Trump changes US representative in peace talks due to Kremlin's claims - NBC
US President's Special Evnvoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg (photo: Getty Images)
US President's Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, has been removed from participating in high-level peace talks over the war. The move comes in response to Moscow's dissatisfaction with his pro-Ukrainian stance, reports NBC News.
A US administration official and a senior Russian official told NBC News that Vladimir Putin had deemed Keith Kellogg too pro-Ukrainian. As a result, the Russian side raised the issue of his exclusion from the negotiation process.
"Kellogg is a former American general, too close to Ukraine. Not our kind of person, not of the caliber we are looking for," the Russian official said.
A representative from the Trump administration confirmed that Moscow had expressed protest over Kellogg's participation. However, he could not specify when the White House was informed of this demand.
At the same time, National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt stated that Kellogg remains a valuable team member, especially regarding negotiations with European allies.
NBC News noted that Kellogg did not participate in the negotiations between Russian and US delegations in Riyadh on February 18.
Negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine
On March 11-12, negotiations between Ukrainian and US delegations took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, the US side proposed a ceasefire along the entire front line for 30 days. Official Kyiv agreed to this proposal.
On Thursday, March 13, a US delegation arrived in Moscow to discuss this matter with the Kremlin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for the idea of a 30-day truce but clarified that he had concerns over several "nuances."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Putin's "nuances" were unrealistic, indicating his willingness to reject the American proposal.
US President Donald Trump hopes that Russia will make the right decision.
