Kellogg: We are working on two tracks to find out possible peace conditions
US Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg explains that discussions of possible peace conditions will be conducted on two tracks – separately with the Russian and separately with the Ukrainian side. It is not yet known what the topics for discussion will be.
Thus, on Monday in Brussels, Kellogg explained to journalists what representatives of the US President Donald Trump's administration are currently doing with the Russian and Ukrainian sides in search of a peaceful solution.
He noted that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was working on the Russian front and would be in Saudi Arabia talking to Ushakov starting the following day, while Kellogg himself would be in Kyiv at the same time to begin discussions on what exactly they would do along that path. He added that Witkoff and he would later return, with Witkoff coming from the Middle East and Kellogg from Ukraine, to compare notes on the situation. He stated they were currently setting the terms and knew that Putin would be the main negotiator for the Russians, President Zelenskyy would be the main negotiator for Ukraine, and President Trump would act as the mediator.
When asked whether the United States would be prepared to provide logistical support or a protection mechanism in the event of European peacekeepers being sent to Ukraine, Kellogg mentioned that he had been with President Trump and had always promised that none of the options would be taken off the table, as it is important not to be in a negotiating position where options are excluded.
The special representative stated that the issue of security guarantees would be a subject of discussion. He emphasized that these discussions would take place, and the answers to these questions would determine what the final process would look like. Kellogg further explained that at this stage, it was like formulating a plan, and they had no idea what would come out of the forum, nor what the discussions and answers would be. He also noted that they didn’t know what Ushakov would say.
At the request of journalists, Kellogg also explained the statements made by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who said that the US would not participate in the upcoming peacekeeping mission. In this regard, Kellogg referred to an article by Vice President J.D. Vance in the Wall Street Journal, where he had stated very clearly that all options were on the table.
When asked about the concerns of allies who were not aware of the negotiations, Kellogg mentioned that during the Munich Conference alone, more than 30 bilateral discussions had been held with allies. He explained that this was part of the process where they had discussions to understand their concerns, what was on their minds, what they were worried about, and what the biggest problems were. He emphasized that this dialogue was one of the reasons he was there and that it would help resolve the issue. At the same time, Kellogg noted that this approach also applied to the EU.