President-elect Donald Trump has nominated retired Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg has had a distinguished military and business career, serving in sensitive national security roles during Trump’s first administration. In April, Kellogg co-authored a policy paper outlining a plan to end the war in Ukraine, proposing a ceasefire and negotiated settlement. The paper acknowledged that an end to the war may not occur while Russian President Vladimir Putin is in power.
During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine, criticizing U.S. aid to the country and expressing a desire to negotiate a resolution. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have a complicated relationship, with a July 2019 phone call between the two leaders leading to Trump’s first impeachment. Vice president-elect JD Vance and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services, have also expressed skepticism toward U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Vance supports engaging in peace talks to end the war, while Kennedy has criticized the amount of aid given to Ukraine. Both have questioned the necessity of U.S. aid to Ukraine, suggesting that Europe should take a more active role in supporting the country. Trump and his administration have faced scrutiny over their approach to Ukraine, with accusations of withholding aid for political reasons. Trump has emphasized the need for peace negotiations and has indicated a desire to play a role in resolving the conflict.
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