Donald Trump's pick for Ukraine and Russia envoy said the US president-elect will have Kiev's interests in mind as he begins work on a deal to end the war and will aim for a solution straight life
"People need to understand that he's not trying to give something to Russian President Vladimir Putin or the Russians," said Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general whom Trump has tapped to be his envoy for Ukraine and Russia. and tasked him with leading negotiations to end the war.
"He's trying to save Ukraine and save its sovereignty," Kellogg said during an interview with Fox News on January 8. "He will make sure that he is fair and he has said this repeatedly", including to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump said during the presidential campaign last year that he would end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. Now he hopes to end the fighting within six months.
"I hope it happens before six months go by," Trump said during a Jan. 7 news conference when asked if he could resolve the conflict in half a year.
Kellogg said he prefers a shorter timeframe, within 100 days of Trump's inauguration as president on Jan. 20. According to the emissary, he and Trump want to end the war as soon as possible.
Kellogg declined to reveal the content of any of his conversations with Trump on the war, saying Trump "speaks for himself" and more information on the subject will be released after the inauguration.
He hinted that efforts are being made for Trump and Putin to talk.
"We will set the terms ... and he will then be in a position to talk to Putin and also to President Zelensky and I think we will come to a solution in a short period of time," Kellogg said.
However, he was not asked about postponing a visit he was expected to make later this month to Kiev and other European capitals. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced on January 7 that this visit will be rescheduled.
During the interview, Kellogg criticized US President Joe Biden for not communicating with Putin, saying it has been more than two years since they spoke. Trump, on the other hand, talks to both opponents and allies, he said.
"He knows he has to talk to people to come to a final solution, and that's what we're going to do," Kellogg said. /REL (A2 Televizion)
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