Behind the scenes of international diplomacy, a recent announcement has captured the world’s attention. The President-elect has delivered his vision for ending the war in Ukraine through a key appointment. Donald Trump has chosen General Keith Kellogg to serve as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
The appointment carries profound significance, signaling a detailed peace plan for one of the most vexing foreign policy issues on the President-elect’s table. With a storied career, the 80-year-old former national security adviser Keith Kellogg has already outlined his peace plan in an April paper for the America First Policy Institute.
In it, he calls the war in Ukraine an “avoidable crisis” resulting from the Biden administration’s incompetent policies that are dragging America into an endless conflict. Kellogg emphasizes the need for a cessation of hostilities to freeze the front lines and force both sides to the negotiating table.
However, the details of the plan reveal a bewildering complexity. Kellogg sharply criticizes Biden’s actions, pointing out that his administration has provided too little lethal aid too late. He highlights Trump’s strategic decision to provide initial lethal aid to Ukraine in 2018, thereby strengthening the position needed to confront Putin.
The plan suggests that Trump’s pragmatic approach to the Kremlin, without Biden’s demonization, is essential to securing a peace deal. However, the proposal to freeze Ukraine’s NATO membership in exchange for a peace deal with verifiable security guarantees raises questions.
The plan calls for a formal U.S. policy of pursuing a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement, conditioning future aid to Ukraine on negotiations with Russia. It also proposes arming Ukraine to defend itself and prevent future Russian advances before and after a peace deal.
However, there are concerns about the effectiveness of these measures. Implementing a demilitarized zone to freeze the front lines would require considerable resources and rigorous monitoring. Moreover, supplying Ukraine with weapons to counter Russian advances faces major logistical challenges.
Ultimately, this ambitious plan raises critical questions about the future of international diplomacy and the role of the United States in global conflicts. It represents an attempt to reconcile competing interests to achieve lasting peace in a war-torn region. The outcome of this initiative will determine not only Ukraine’s fate, but also the ability of the great powers to forge a common future based on peace and cooperation.