Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia under former President Donald Trump, stated that Europe would not have a seat at the negotiating table for peace in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Kellogg acknowledged that while European perspectives would be considered, they would not be directly involved in the discussions.
“It might be difficult to hear, but this is the honest truth,” he remarked.
Addressing European leaders, Kellogg urged them to engage in the process by offering concrete proposals rather than debating their inclusion in the talks. He also emphasized the need for increased defense spending.
He argued that involving too many countries would complicate the negotiations.
Kellogg highlighted the necessity of achieving a lasting peace supported by strong security guarantees, though he did not specify what those guarantees would entail.
He also noted that Trump would require a “full range of options” and that “all options remain on the table.”
Meanwhile, NATO chief Mark Rutte stated that if Europe wanted to participate in U.S.-led peace efforts, it needed to present “strong proposals” to help secure Ukraine’s future.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also attending the conference, invited Kellogg to visit the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky stressed that firsthand experience of the situation would help convey the reality on the ground to Trump.
“It is crucial for me that he sees this,” Zelensky said, adding that such a visit could help bring clarity to differing perspectives on the conflict.
