U.S. President Donald Trump's particular envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, stated in an interview with Fox Information on Feb. 13 that "formalizing Ukraine’s territorial losses" in a possible peace deal "is not going to equate to recognizing them."
"I feel there might be a sure settlement on the potential lack of territory. However, look, you don't must admit it," Kellogg stated.
He additionally supported U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s view that restoring Ukraine’s 2014 borders can be an "unrealistic goal" and that the Trump administration’s precedence is on ending the battle as quickly as doable.
Consultants and officers in Ukraine and Europe have criticized Hegseth's feedback for undermining Ukraine's leverage earlier than peace talks with Russia have even began.
Kellogg referenced the 1940 Welles Declaration, which rejected Soviet possession of the Baltic states regardless of their occupation, implying {that a} comparable method may apply to Ukraine.
"When the Soviets segregated the Baltic international locations, we by no means stated they owned the international locations. We stated there was only a form of domination," he stated.
In the meantime, Zelensky and U.S. Vice President JD Vance are anticipated to satisfy throughout the prime European safety convention, which is able to happen between Feb. 14 and 16. The U.S. delegation may also embody Kellog and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Although the main points of the anticipated Vance-Zelensky assembly haven’t been disclosed, Kellogg beforehand stated that U.S. officers would speak in Munich about Trump's "objective to finish the bloody and expensive battle in Ukraine."
Kellogg is scheduled to go to Ukraine on Feb. 20, whereas Trump talked about plans to satisfy with Zelensky quickly, although he didn’t specify the placement or timing.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima