The Trump administration's incoming Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, plans to visit Kyiv and several European capitals in early January as part of the new administration’s effort to address the Russia-Ukraine war, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Kellogg, who will serve as President-elect Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, does not intend to travel to Moscow during this trip, the sources said. Instead, he will hold discussions with senior Ukrainian leaders in Kyiv.
Kellogg's team is also arranging meetings in other European cities, including Rome and Paris, though the itinerary remains subject to change, one source added.
The meetings are expected to focus on "fact-finding" to inform the incoming Trump administration, rather than launching formal negotiations, according to the sources. However, the trip signals the urgency Trump has placed on resolving the war in Ukraine.
Trump has pledged to end the war within 24 hours of assuming office, however, he hasn't provided details on how he plans to do it. At his first news conference since winning the election, Trump voiced his intention to make "a little progress" toward peace.
Speaking from Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 16, he called the war "horrible" and underscored the urgent need to bring it to an end. "We’re going to get a little progress. It’s a tough one, it’s a nasty one, it’s nasty."
Former national security and intelligence officials have expressed skepticism, pointing out that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have little incentive to negotiate under conditions acceptable to Kyiv.
Martin Fornusek
(Updated: )
