Ukraine may have to recognize de facto control over occupied territories, but can retake them later – Kellogg
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special representative Keith Kellogg urged Ukraine to take a long-term view on the issue of regaining territories temporarily occupied by Russia, stressing that any decision on territorial concessions for peace would be made solely by Ukraine.
He said this in an interview with The Telegraph, Censor.NET reports.
Kellogg stated that dictator Putin is a KGB agent.
"He never stopped being one. He does not understand the West. He pretends not to speak English, but he does, and we have caught him out several times before. He’s a manipulator. The only thing to counter that is strength, power and force," the general emphasized.
Kellogg was asked whether he agreed with remarks by former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who said last week that if Russia conquered Ukraine, it would move on to attack a NATO country. He replied affirmatively.
"Absolutely. We have to look at Putin and Russia as an expansionist state. He wants to rebuild the Russian Empire, just look at history. Give him an inch, and he’ll take a mile. It reminds me of World War Two. In Munich in 1938, Hitler said that he only wanted the Sudetenland. Then the Rhineland, then Poland, then we were in the Second World War. History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. That’s exactly what’s happening here with Ukraine. We must stop him now," Trump’s special envoy said.
In his view, he does not expect dictator Putin to face trial in The Hague for his crimes, but Kellogg said he believes in fair courts.
He also spoke about Trump’s role in peace efforts and dismissed criticism of the U.S. president, who has been nicknamed "TACO" — Trump Always Chickens Out.
"Trump’s trying to give diplomacy every chance. When he said he could stop the war in 24 hours, he was aiming for legacy. He quickly realised it’s harder than expected – personalities matter. Ukrainians are ready for a deal but Putin isn’t. He [Putin] is being misled. He unfortunately thinks that he is winning this war, but he isn’t. So, Trump is just giving him latitude and the time to come to the negotiating table, but we still hold the cards," Kellogg explained.
At the same time, when asked whether Ukraine would have to give up part of its territory for a peace deal with Russia, the general stressed that such decisions would be made solely by Ukraine.
"Trump isn’t trading on Ukrainian land. That’s Zelensky’s mandate. Nobody else’s call. But let’s be realistic: Donetsk is 65 per cent occupied. Luhansk is at 98 per cent. You have to accept reality. De facto doesn’t mean de jure... Sometimes, short-term reality doesn’t match your goal. You may have to acknowledge occupied territory now, but over the long term, it can be recovered. Play the long game," Kellogg argued.
General Kellogg described himself as an optimist and said he believes a peace deal can and will be achieved. However, unlike President Trump, the general said he would prefer a ceasefire before detailed peace negotiations.
He was clear about the sequence: "Without a ceasefire, it is very hard to achieve peace. The problem is that Putin thinks he is winning, so he will not agree to peace yet. Trump prefers negotiations first. I prefer a ceasefire first, because once it takes hold, it is hard to restart the fighting."
As for Trump’s frustration with the slow pace of peace talks, Kellogg said: "[Trump] is frustrated. He thought his personal relationship with Putin would deliver results. Instead, Putin let him down. Behind closed doors, President Trump is much angrier than in public."
On the next front in this three-year war, Trump’s special envoy added: "Putin will undoubtedly try to capture all of Donetsk and Luhansk. The next targets could be the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. But from what we have seen so far, they can only be taken inch by inch, and the losses will be enormous."
