European Officials Excluded From Ukraine War Negotiations

Pence national security adviser Keith Kellogg speaks during press briefing at the White House in Washington

During an event at the Munich Security Conference, the Trump administration's Russia-Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, confirmed that European officials will not participate directly in negotiations to resolve the war in Ukraine. Kellogg firmly stated that Ukrainians will be present at the negotiating table, but Europeans will not.

Kellogg emphasized that while European positions will be considered, their absence from direct negotiations is a deliberate decision. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that European stances are understood, indicating that his presence at the conference serves this purpose.

The current uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump's approach to ending Russia's war has raised concerns in Europe. A recent phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has sparked speculation about potential shifts in US-European relations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed doubts about continued US support for Europe during the Munich conference.

Ukrainians, not Europeans, will be present at the negotiating table.

Keith Kellogg confirms European absence in Ukraine negotiations.

Kellogg stresses understanding European positions despite their absence.

Kellogg, adopting a realist perspective, criticized the previous Minsk-2 agreement, which aimed to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. He noted that the agreement failed due to the involvement of parties lacking the ability to execute a peace process effectively.

The Minsk-2 agreement, negotiated in 2015, brought together leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France in an effort to restore peace in regions affected by the conflict. Despite its ambitious goals, the agreement struggled with implementation challenges and ultimately did not achieve lasting stability in the region.