US President Donald Trump appointed Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general, as Special Envoy to Ukraine on Saturday.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said Kellogg has a great working releationship with Ukraine. "He knows them well," Trump said, adding that the "highly respected military expert will deal directly with" President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian leadership.
Who is Keith Kellogg?
Kellogg, 80, was former national security advisor to former Vice President Mike Pence in the first Trump administration.
Following his appointment, Kellogg posted on X, saying he is honoured by the president's decision. "I have been privileged to have known @realdonaldtrump since 2015, and he will END THIS WAR. It is an honor to serve our great nation and advance the vital interests of the United States. America First!"
He was not included in the peace talks led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia.
I am deeply honored and humbled by President Trump’s confidence in appointing me as Special Envoy to Ukraine. I have been privileged to have known @realdonaldtrump since 2015, and he will END THIS WAR. It is an honor to serve our great nation and advance the vital interests of… pic.twitter.com/35ECtacOr8
— Keith Kellogg (@generalkellogg) March 15, 2025
This was mainly because he was seen as a supporter of Zelenskyy by Russian leader Vladimir Putin. A Russian official anonymously told NBC News that Kellogg is too close to Ukraine, saying, "Not our kind of person, not of the caliber we are looking for."
Why did Donald Trump pick Keith Kellogg as Ukraine envoy?
Kellogg being a Ukraine supporter, Trump seems to have made the right decision to pick him as special envoy. This is important considering recent Oval Office showdown between Trump and Zelenskyy, following which US ties with Ukraine hit a new low. Vice President JD Vance too slammed Zelenskyy for not offering the US anything in return for supply of funds and weapons.
Earlier, there were reports that Kellogg was being sidelined. However, Kellogg's office had denied the rumours.
