**Trump Selects General Keith Kellogg as Special Envoy for Russia-Ukraine Conflict**

In a significant move, United States President-elect Donald Trump has chosen retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg to serve as the special envoy for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. This appointment underscores Trump’s commitment to making the cessation of the nearly three-year conflict a cornerstone of his foreign policy.

Kellogg, aged 80, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as Chief of Staff for the White House National Security Council during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021. Additionally, he was the national security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Kellogg also has experience in Iraq, where he worked in the transitional government following the US-led invasion in 2003. Announcing Kellogg's nomination on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised Kellogg for his long-term support, stating, "He was with me right from the beginning!"

The creation of the special envoy position highlights Trump’s preference for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Earlier this year, in April, Kellogg co-authored a strategy paper with former US official Fred Fleitz, advocating for a negotiated ceasefire in Ukraine. The paper criticizes the Biden administration for prolonging the war, accusing it of arming Ukraine and failing in diplomatic efforts with Russia. It also suggests that Biden's actions have promoted a proxy war via Ukraine.

Published by the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump officials, the current strategy paper pushes for an “America First” approach to the conflict. Echoing Trump’s rhetoric, Kellogg and Fleitz argue that a robust and decisive president could have deterred Russian President Vladimir Putin from initiating a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Despite the paper's assertions, Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, warns of the complexities in achieving a ceasefire. Russia is likely to negotiate only when it feels strategically comfortable, whereas a pause in fighting could be disastrous for Ukraine. Giles emphasized that Western nations might prematurely view a ceasefire as the end of the crisis while Russia could use it to prepare for further actions.

Kellogg’s proposed plan, which involves a formal US policy to end the war through negotiation and ceasefire, is at odds with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s objectives, particularly Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership. Giles pointed out that Ukraine's accession to NATO, although promised, faces skepticism from alliance members, especially while the war continues due to the potential risk of NATO being at war with Moscow.

While Trump has pledged to quickly end the war, the specifics of how he plans to achieve this remain undisclosed. Trump stated in a podcast that he has a “very exacting plan” but refrained from revealing details, citing strategic reasons.

The Washington Post recently reported that Trump spoke to Putin on November 7, urging him not to escalate the conflict and expressing his interest in further discussions to resolve it. However, the Kremlin denied that the call occurred, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov labeling such reports as “pure fiction” and sharing that no plans for a call between Putin and Trump were in place.

As Trump prepares to assume office, Kellogg's strategies and potential negotiations will be closely watched, given the complexities and high stakes of the Russia-Ukraine war.