Trump's ex-envoy Kellogg says Ukraine has every right to strike Russia
Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump's former special envoy for Ukraine, has stated that Ukraine has every right to strike targets on Russian territory in response to Moscow's actions.
Source: Kellogg in an interview with Bloomberg
Details: Drawing on his personal experience serving in the Vietnam War, Kellogg emphasised that in a conflict, an opponent must not be allowed any "sanctuaries".
Kellogg noted that Russia has already attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure, so Kyiv should be allowed to hit targets on Russian territory as it sees fit.
Quote: "Let Ukrainians do what they've been very good at."
Details: Kellogg notes that Russia is not winning the war but merely dragging it out.
His stance sharply diverges from Trump's position, who in recent days has urged Kyiv to halt air attacks on Russian oil refineries. These strikes have become Ukraine's most effective tool for cutting off a primary revenue source funding Moscow's full-scale invasion.
Kellogg dismissed Trump's rhetoric as "noise", including his suggestion that Zelenskyy consider stepping down as president of Ukraine. He also expressed confidence that the latest dispute would not escalate into a repeat of the tense confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February 2025.
Quote: "I think what's happening is a couple of world leaders - I think they are basically kind of alike. You know, they're both kind of stubborn, they both speak their mind."
Details: The latest friction was triggered by Trump's controversial agreement with Kremlin leader Putin regarding Russian diesel supplies to global markets. The US president is looking for ways to lower energy prices ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. However, Kellogg believes the deal offers no real advantage to Putin and will have no noticeable impact on the market.
Quote: "He's trying to capitalise on elections coming up in the US, he's trying to capitalise on President Trump right now. And most people see through it."
Background:
- When commenting previously on Kyiv's successful long-range strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, Kellogg said that for the first time since 2023, Ukrainians had begun gaining the upper hand over the Russians in the war.
- Kellogg served as Trump's special envoy until the end of 2025. His decision to resign was reportedly tied to his frustration with how his colleagues in the administration were falling for Russian deception.
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