U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated on Monday that the United States will not force Ukraine to accept any peace agreement negotiated by President Donald Trump to end the conflict with Russia. Kellogg's remarks came before his scheduled three-day visit to Kyiv, where he is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

 

Kellogg emphasized that the ultimate decision regarding any potential deal rests with Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. "The decision by Ukrainians is a Ukrainian decision," Kellogg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels. He stressed his role is to "facilitate" a deal that ensures Ukraine's sovereignty with solid security guarantees.

 

Kellogg's visit to Kyiv follows a meeting between top U.S. and Russian negotiators in Saudi Arabia, the first such meeting since Trump agreed to pursue peace efforts with Vladimir Putin. While European leaders met in Paris to discuss a unified strategy, Kellogg reiterated that they would not directly participate in negotiations but would have input. He also noted that "everything remains on the table," including broader European and global security issues and potential efforts to address Russia's relationships with Iran, North Korea, and China. Kellogg suggested that both Russia and Ukraine may be ready to end the war, as neither side appears capable of achieving a decisive victory. He is expected to travel to Ukraine by train from Poland on Tuesday, February 18.