We have now heard several from the US administration how Donald J. Trump is at the end of his patience with the lack of advance towards a cease-fire and a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
We can imagine that he is equally disgusted with both warring parties – or we can better gauge what’s happening inside Trump’s head by the movements of his top advisers.
For that, let’s take a look at two special envoys: Steve Whitaker and Keith Kellogg.
While we haven’t seen Whitaker publicly pressuring the Russians, there is now substantial evidence of a hardening of the Kellogg stance towards Ukraine.
By analysing Witkoff and Kellog, we can understand the internal dinamics of Trump’s team.
In an earlier report here in TGP, we’ve shown how Kellog tipped the scales of the Ukrainian acceptance for the last round of talks in Istanbul.
As the most pro-Kiev of Trump officials, he surprised many by giving an interview saying that Ukraine will ever be part of NATO, and admitting that the Russian worries about NATO expansion East were justified.
Kellogg also said he’s had to pressure Zelensky’s team into going to Istanbul talks:
“I spoke with [Ukrainian Defense Minister] Rustem Umerov, who will lead the delegation at the next talks in Istanbul, and he hasn’t seen [the memorandum] yet either. I always warn: don’t say things like you won’t show up. Part of life is showing up. You need to show that you’re serious.”
Kellogg says he’s had to LECTURE Zelensky’s team about going to Istanbul talks
‘If you don’t show up, part of life is showing up’
‘And you need to show you’re serious’ about peace https://t.co/qE89HEUNOu pic.twitter.com/aG8jsajcs6
— RT (@RT_com) May 29, 2025
And today, the retired General criticized the risk of steep escalation after Ukraine attacked the nuclear-capable bombers’ airbases deep inside Russia.
“’I’m telling you: the risk levels are going way up – I mean, what happened this weekend’, Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, told Fox News. ‘People have to understand in the national security space: when you attack an opponent’s part of their national survival system, which is their triad, the nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don’t know what the other side is going to do. You’re not sure.”
Ukrainian drones attacked Russian strategic bombers and fighters.
“Kellogg said the damage to the Russian bombers at the weekend was less important than the psychological impact on Russia and that he was particularly concerned by unconfirmed reports of a Ukrainian attack on a naval base in northern Russia.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that Trump had not been informed in advance of Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russia’s bombers.”
Great to be on @AmericaRpts with @JacquiHeinrich @johnrobertsFox talking about UKR-RU war termination. pic.twitter.com/6jgeunj7IW
— Keith Kellogg (@generalkellogg) June 4, 2025
Read more:
FLOP: Russia-Ukraine Talks in Istanbul End After Just One Hour, With No Apparent Progress Made
The post Keith Kellogg’s Hardening Stance on Ukraine Shows Trump’s Real Play in Peace Process – Special Envoy Calls Attack on Russian Strategic Bombers a Dangerous Nuclear Escalation appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.