Trump envoy Kellogg says Putin and Zelenskyy need to talk and make concessions
Photo: US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg (Getty Images)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin should hold talks. The Kremlin's statements about the alleged illegitimacy of the Ukrainian leader will not work, says US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg, according to Tagesschau.
“But it won't work (Putin's statement about Zelenskyy's alleged illegitimacy - ed.) They have to talk. And both sides have to give something up,” Kellogg added.
Russia has long been promoting the thesis that Zelenskyy's term as president of Ukraine is allegedly illegitimate. The latter has been in office since 2019, and his official term ended in May 2024. According to the martial law imposed in the country, the head of state continues to perform his duties legally.
Among other things, Kellogg denied the assumption that US President Donald Trump allegedly plans to negotiate exclusively with Putin.
“We recognize that the three parties have to talk to each other, especially the two main actors, the Russians and the Ukrainians, they have to sit down and talk,” he explained.
Trump's calls to Putin and Zelenskyy
On February 12, Trump held phone calls with Putin and Zelenskyy. Afterward, he told journalists in the Oval Office that Ukraine's return to the 2014 borders was unlikely.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, in turn, noted that Kyiv, as well as Europe, should be included in future negotiations on ending the full-scale war in Ukraine.
