Donald Trump, the US President-elect, is considering appointing retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as a special envoy to address the conflict in Ukraine. Kellogg, who previously served as Chief of the National Security Council during Trump’s first term (2017-2021) and as a national security advisor to then-Vice President Mike Pence, has reportedly presented a plan to end the war, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Kellogg’s plan involves a ceasefire along the frontlines and compelling both Kyiv and Moscow to enter negotiations. The proposal gained attention when Reuters reported on it in June.
Currently, there is no special envoy for the conflict, but Trump may create the position, according to the sources. Caroline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, declined to comment on the potential appointment, stating that staffing decisions will be announced by Trump in due course. Kellogg himself has not commented on the matter.
Other Candidates and Strategic Proposals
Kellogg is not the sole contender for the role. Richard Grenell, former Director of National Intelligence under Trump, is also in the running. Grenell has advocated for the establishment of “autonomous zones” as a conflict resolution strategy.
Kellogg developed his Ukraine plan in collaboration with Fred Fleitz, another former National Security Council official. Their approach suggests the U.S. would condition further military aid to Ukraine on its participation in peace talks. Simultaneously, Russia would be warned that refusal to negotiate would result in increased U.S. support for Ukraine. Ukraine’s NATO membership would be shelved for the immediate future.
This plan is likely to face resistance from Kyiv, as it would effectively concede parts of eastern Ukraine to Russian control, at least temporarily. Additionally, some Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives may be reluctant to endorse further aid to Ukraine.