U.S. President Donald Trump's particular envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, mentioned on Feb. 15 that Europe won’t be straight concerned in negotiations to finish Russia's battle in Ukraine, however its pursuits will likely be thought of.
Kellogg's remarks come because the Trump administration is making an attempt to convey Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating desk. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he goals to finish the battle as quickly as doable however has not outlined particular steps to take action.
Talking on the Munich Safety Convention, Kellogg talked about the Minsk II deal of 2015, which aimed to finish Russia's preliminary invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and concerned Germany and France alongside Ukraine and Russia.
"There have been lots of people on the desk, but it surely didn't work out," Kellogg mentioned. That's why Europe won’t be concerned within the negotiations, however its pursuits will likely be taken into consideration, he added.
Kellogg additionally confused that Russia's battle in opposition to Ukraine might finish even this 12 months, pledging to "have interaction all events" in 180 days to attempt to obtain this.
Kellogg mentioned that Trump "won’t hand over necessary pursuits," including that the U.S. will proceed to assist Ukraine, however "the killing should be stopped."
Moscow and Kyiv engaged in direct negotiations in Belarus and Turkey in the course of the early months of the full-scale invasion, however these talks in the end failed. No formal direct discussions between the 2 sides have taken place since then.
Trump has tasked his personal delegation, together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Nationwide Safety Advisor Michael Waltz, to steer negotiations.
The Kremlin has repeatedly emphasised that it views the U.S. as its "predominant counterpart" in efforts to finish the battle.
Zelensky mentioned that he desires European allies to be concerned in peace negotiations. Kyiv insists that no talks about Ukraine and ending Russia's battle must be held with out Ukraine.
The Kyiv IndependentNataliya Bugayova