Trump’s Russia-Ukraine Envoy Cancels Kyiv Trip, Rescheduling Expected Amid War Uncertainty
A planned trip to Kyiv by US President-elect Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, has been canceled but will be rescheduled, The Associated Press reports, citing Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
The postponement comes as Ukraine grapples with the uncertainties surrounding the upcoming change in US leadership and its potential impact on the ongoing war with Russia.
Sybiha emphasized the importance of the planned meetings between Kellogg, a retired three-star general and longtime Trump advisor, and Ukrainian officials.
The arrival of Trump in the White House on January 20 adds a new layer of unpredictability to the nearly three-year-old conflict. Ukraine heavily relies on Western, especially US, military funding. Trump has criticized the billions of dollars the Biden administration has allocated to Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, though he has not provided specific details on his plan.
Ukrainian officials are keen to influence Trump to maintain support for their country. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has praised Trump’s “strength” and suggested that his “unpredictability” could be beneficial for Ukraine. Trump, however, did not invite Zelensky to his inaguration, showing singns of reluctance to provide military support to the Kyiv regime.
Military analysts say that he Ukrainian army is experiencing manpower shortages, particularly along the front lines in eastern Ukraine while Russian forces have made territorial gains.
One such area is the eastern stronghold of Kurakhove, where Russian forces have recently advanced following a month-long battle. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that its units had taken Kurakhove, though Ukrainian officials have not confirmed this.
