Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that he met US special envoy Keith Kellogg to discuss steps toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, Reuters reported.
“I affirmed Ukraine’s willingness to achieve peace through strength and our vision for the necessary steps,” Sybiha said on X. He also said that Ukraine’s security is “indivisible” from the transatlantic alliance.
Kellogg, who arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, has met with Ukraine’s top military and intelligence officials. He has stated that his goal is to “listen” to Ukraine’s concerns and report back to the White House, as per Reuters.
I met with @SPE_Kellogg to discuss ways toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. I affirmed Ukraine’s willingness to achieve peace through strength and our vision for the necessary steps. I also reiterated that the security of Ukraine and the transatlantic is indivisible. pic.twitter.com/UFngG883KQ
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) February 20, 2025
Kellogg’s visit comes at a challenging diplomatic time for Ukraine, as US President Donald Trump has been in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet Kellogg later on Thursday.
Trump’s statements fuel tensions
Trump has escalated tensions by stating Ukraine “should never have started” the war, calling Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections,” and spreading misinformation about his political standing.
Zelenskyy responded by saying Trump is trapped in a “disinformation bubble” influenced by Russian propaganda, but later in the day said he was counting on American pragmatism.
Concerns for Europe
Amid concerns that US-Russia peace talks may exclude Europe, UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasized that lasting peace in Ukraine requires European involvement, according to the BBC. He downplayed US-Europe divisions, despite worries that Trump’s negotiations might sideline European nations, including Ukraine.
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In response, European leaders sought to form a united front on Monday at an emergency meeting held in Paris.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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