President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, was notably absent from high-level negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. His exclusion came after the Kremlin objected to his participation, according to U.S. and Russian officials.
Kellogg’s absence from recent summits in Saudi Arabia raises questions about his role in the administration’s peace efforts, as well as the overall direction of Trump’s approach to the war. Despite being Trump’s key point person on Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg was sidelined from direct negotiations, a move that appears to have been dictated by Moscow.
Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired general and longtime Trump loyalist, was appointed as the administration’s envoy for Russia-Ukraine peace in January. However, he did not attend the U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh on Feb. 18. A senior Russian official, speaking anonymously, stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin considered Kellogg “too pro-Ukraine.”
“Kellogg is a former American general, too close to Ukraine. Not our kind of person, not of the caliber we are looking for,” the Russian official said.
A U.S. official from the Trump administration, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Russia had made it clear they did not want Kellogg involved. However, the official could not specify when the White House received that message.
The exact impact of Kellogg’s exclusion on future negotiations remains uncertain. His office did not respond to requests for comment regarding Russia’s objection or his absence from the talks.
The White House has largely downplayed Kellogg’s absence. National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt stated that Trump was using “multiple senior administration officials” to push for peace in Ukraine. Hewitt emphasized that Kellogg remained “a valued part of the team, especially as it relates to talks with our European allies.”
Kellogg’s background suggests a hardline stance on Ukraine. Before taking his current role, he criticized the Biden administration’s foreign policy, arguing in a paper for the America First Policy Institute that the U.S. should strengthen Ukraine’s defenses while pushing Kyiv toward peace talks. His stance on freezing the front lines in Ukraine appears to have made him an unacceptable figure for Moscow.
Andrei Fedorov, a former Russian deputy foreign minister with close ties to the Kremlin, told that Russia would not negotiate with Kellogg because of his position on the conflict. Russia, he said, seeks Ukrainian withdrawals from contested regions, particularly the occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which it annexed in 2022.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has emerged as a key figure in the administration’s talks with Russia. On Feb. 11, Witkoff traveled to Moscow and met with Putin for 3½ hours, a meeting that had no official transcript.
Witkoff, a New York real estate developer and personal friend of Trump, later told CBS News that his meeting with Putin was a “trust-building” mission and that he carried a message from Trump. He also suggested that Putin gave him a message to deliver back to Trump, but he did not disclose its contents.
The following day, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that he had spoken directly with Putin. According to Trump, the two leaders “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” and discussed potential visits between the two nations.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin expressed readiness to receive American officials to discuss mutual interests, including the Ukraine conflict.
On Feb. 13, Trump unveiled the list of diplomats who would attend the negotiations with Russia. The delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, included CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Witkoff.
Kellogg’s name was absent from the list. A second U.S. official told that Kellogg’s exclusion was a personal blow to him. When asked whether Witkoff had discussed Kellogg’s absence with Putin, Witkoff’s representative declined to comment.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, dodged direct confirmation that Moscow had requested Kellogg’s removal. Instead, she said it was up to American leaders to “fix their delegation” and that Russia had experience working with a variety of envoys.
While Trump has focused on negotiations with Russia, his relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has deteriorated. The strain became evident after their heated exchange in the Oval Office on Feb. 28.
Following the dispute, the U.S. temporarily halted intelligence sharing and security assistance to Ukraine. Although the pause was lifted earlier this week, it marked a significant shift in Trump’s approach to the war.
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian delegation met with Rubio’s team in Saudi Arabia and agreed to a 30-day interim ceasefire. Kellogg was once again absent from the discussions.
Trump has continued sending Witkoff as his primary envoy to Moscow. On Thursday, Witkoff returned to Russia, and shortly after, Putin indicated that he was open to stopping hostilities.
At a news conference, Putin stated that he agreed “with the proposals to stop the hostilities” but noted that further discussions were needed. He hinted that he might soon have another phone call with Trump.
While a temporary ceasefire appears to be within reach, broader questions remain about the terms of a final settlement. Russia continues to demand Ukrainian territorial concessions, while Ukraine insists on full sovereignty over its occupied regions.
Kellogg’s exclusion from direct negotiations raises questions about his future role in Trump’s administration. Despite being sidelined, he remains an official envoy, but his effectiveness in shaping U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia appears increasingly limited.
With Witkoff and Rubio now at the center of Trump’s negotiations, Kellogg’s influence has diminished. Whether he will regain a role in the talks or be quietly phased out remains to be seen.
