U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, held a "thorough discussion" with Ukraine's ambassador to Washington in their first official meeting, amid growing pressure for a resolution to the war and potential elections in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s efforts to forge strong ties with the Trump administration took a step forward on Thursday as Ambassador Oksana Markarova met with Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, for the first time since his appointment.
Markarova described the meeting as a "thorough discussion", noting that Kellogg and his team engaged in detailed talks with Ukrainian representatives. This comes as Kyiv seeks clarity on Trump's stance regarding the nearly three-year war with Russia, with the U.S. president previously pledging to bring a swift end to the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has already spoken with Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, while his administration is coordinating dates for an expected U.S. delegation visit to Ukraine.
While Trump has not outlined a clear strategy, Kellogg recently suggested that Ukraine should hold elections, potentially by the end of the year, if a truce with Russia can be agreed upon. However, Zelenskyy has ruled out elections during martial law, countering Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that his presidency has extended beyond its legal mandate.
Meanwhile, Russian officials suggest that preparations for a Putin-Trump meeting are at an advanced stage, with discussions reportedly taking place regarding a February or March timeline.
As diplomatic talks gain momentum, all eyes are on Trump’s next moves—particularly on whether his administration will push for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, or take a harder stance on military aid and conditions for peace.
Read next
04:14
U.S. President Donald Trump has released a trove of documents related to the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy, fulfilling a campaign promise to provide greater transparency on the historic event.
04:04
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that military aid to Ukraine was not discussed during his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the Kremlin stating that Putin had called for an end to U.S. support for Kyiv.
00:05
U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday to comment on his phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a “very good and productive one” and claiming progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.
22:12
U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts has publicly rejected President Donald Trump’s demand to impeach a federal judge, delivering a rare rebuke that highlights growing tensions between the White House and the judiciary.
21:00
USAID
The suspension of nearly all USAID funding by the Trump administration is shuttering vital humanitarian and anti-gang programs in Colombia’s poorest regions, jeopardizing the implementation of the country’s 2016 peace deal with leftist FARC rebels.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment