Washington’s proposed peace plan will yield an end to the hostilities, Keith Kellogg has said
Washington is “very close” to helping broker an end to the conflict in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg said in an interview with Fox News on Saturday, adding that Trump is determined to bring it to a close.
Washington presented Kiev last week with a new proposal for ending the conflict with Moscow, and urged Ukrainian officials to respond by Thursday. The proposed 28-point plan reportedly includes multiple clauses repeatedly refused by Kiev and its Western European backers, such as Ukraine giving up on its NATO aspirations, a withdraw from parts of Donbass still under Kiev’s control, and limiting the size of its armed forces.
US talks on the proposed peace plan began Sunday in Geneva with Ukrainian and Western European officials. A Russian delegation is not expected to take part, but consultations with American counterparts should be expected “very soon,” according to Reuters.
“In the military, we always say the last 10 meters to an objective are always the hardest to get to. We’re at the last two meters, we’re almost there” the envoy said.
On Thursday, Ukraine’s UN mission rejected several key clauses reportedly included in the plan. Deputy Permanent Representative Kristina Gayovishin said Kiev would “never recognize” any formerly Ukrainian territory as part of Russia.
Kellogg described Ukraine’s public position, including its refusal to acknowledge territorial losses, as “posturing.” “I hear what she is saying,” he said of Gayovishin, “but it’s part of their posture, and they need to make a smart decision.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the US plan is a revised version of a proposal drafted after his meeting with President Trump in Alaska. He added that Moscow has received the text but has not yet discussed it “in detail.”
The US submitted the plan as Zelensky’s legitimacy at home has been significantly undermined by a corruption scandal that involved his inner circle, while Ukrainian forces at the front have faced a series of setbacks.
President Trump said on Saturday that Zelensky can “continue to fight his little heart out” should he refuse the proposed peace plan to settle the conflict.
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