WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump is considering naming retired Gen. Keith Kellogg as his Ukraine envoy charged with ending the nearly three-year Russian invasion, The Post has confirmed.
Kellogg, 80, was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Palm Beach, Fla., on Tuesday and last week as the incoming president picks key administration aides after rapidly fleshing out his Cabinet.
The retired Army lieutenant general, a frequent guest on cable news programs and an alum of Trump’s first term of office, coauthored a research paper in April calling for the US to use weapons donations to Kyiv as leverage to push peace talks with the Kremlin.
The research paper called for “a formal U.S. policy to bring the war to a conclusion.”
“Specifically, it would mean a formal U.S. policy to seek a cease-fire and negotiated settlement of the Ukraine conflict. The United States would continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen its defenses to ensure Russia will make no further advances and will not attack again after a cease-fire or peace agreement.
Future American military aid, however, will require Ukraine to participate in peace talks with Russia,” the paper said.
Kellogg is believed to face competition from former acting intelligence director Ric Grenell, who has advocated the adoption of “autonomous zones” within Ukraine to end the conflict.
“I think Kellogg has a real chance because of the work he’s done on this issue,” a source familiar with the process told The Post.
A supporter of Kellogg’s candidacy tells The Post that Trump should pick him beacause “he’s incredibly loyal.”
“He was with [Trump] from day one of the first administration, was there to the very last minute — is extremely supportive,” the supporter said. “He’s one of his most knowledgeable foreign policy advisors. You know, I think he’s a real asset to the president.”
Grenell, however, brings significant diplomatic experience as a former US ambassador to Germany, who implemented Trump’s pressure campaign to stall the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, before then serving as a successful envoy to broker a diplomatic breakthrough between Serbia and Kosovo.
Kellogg served in a number of positions during Trump’s first term, including as national security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence.
