CaliToday (24/11/2025): Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, is reportedly planning to step down from the Trump Administration in January, sources told Reuters. This exit is seen as a pivotal moment, as Kellogg has long been viewed as the most Kyiv-friendly figure within an administration that is increasingly shifting toward a hardline stance demanding Ukraine accept a U.S.-drafted peace deal.
Legal Timelines and Political Context
The timing of Kellogg’s departure in January is reportedly influenced by bureaucratic constraints. By law, the Special Envoy title is temporary and requires Senate confirmation if the incumbent remains in the role for more than 360 days. Kellogg is said to view January as a "logical departure point" adhering to this regulation.
For Kyiv and its European allies, the news is troubling. European diplomats and Ukrainian officials have praised Kellogg as a crucial "listening ear" in Washington, contrasting him with other administration figures perceived as echoing Moscow's narratives regarding the war's origins.
The Rise of Witkoff and the Ultimatum
Kellogg’s planned exit coincides with unprecedented diplomatic pressure on Ukraine. Two sources informed Reuters that Washington has delivered an ultimatum to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted peace framework. This controversial plan mandates significant concessions, including territorial cessions, military downsizing, and the relinquishing of certain long-range weaponry.
The architect of this aggressive new framework is Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who has repeatedly mirrored Vladimir Putin's talking points and consistently advocated for a "land-for-peace" resolution.
Internal Conflict: Kellogg was conspicuously not involved in drafting the peace deal and, in fact, had repeatedly clashed with Witkoff. Crucially, Kellogg was known for strongly condemning Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure—a condemnation many of his administration peers avoided.
Kellogg’s Success: One of Kellogg's notable diplomatic successes was brokering a deal with Belarus to release dozens of hostages in exchange for minor sanctions relief from the U.S.
Shifting Sands in Trump’s Ukraine Policy
President Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war continues to be erratic and phase-driven:
Intelligence Fluctuations: Trump has, at various times, paused intelligence sharing with Kyiv, only to quickly restore it.
Aid Cuts: More recently, while he increased intelligence sharing, he has largely reduced or terminated the direct military aid established by the previous Biden administration.
The Ceasefire Back-and-Forth: Trump initially pushed for an "immediate ceasefire," abandoned the call after meeting with Putin in Alaska in August, but then reverted to the ceasefire stance upon meeting Zelenskyy in Washington in October.
The elevation of Witkoff as the architect of the new deal fuels significant concern that the U.S. is tilting heavily toward making concessions to Russia, especially given reports that Ukraine may be forced to accept military reductions and loss of control over territory in the Donbas and potentially other regions.
Personnel Gaps and Internal Strife
The administration’s commitment to Ukraine faces further scrutiny due to key personnel gaps. The U.S. has yet to appoint a formal ambassador to Ukraine; Julie Fisher, a professional diplomat, continues to serve only as the Chargé d’Affaires in Kyiv.
Kellogg, who maintains a strong relationship with President Trump, was notably absent from the high-stakes meeting with Zelenskyy in October—an absence believed to stem from the deepening internal policy conflict between factions within the administration.
As January approaches, the lack of a clear successor to Kellogg means Ukraine is losing a vital, sympathetic advocate just as Washington seems determined to force a highly unfavorable settlement.