Trump taps retired General Keith Kellogg for Ukraine envoy role

[HereForTheParty]

Source: Reuters

Summary

Kellogg's plan involves freezing battle lines, forcing negotiations

Plan may give Russia control over eastern Ukraine

Some Republicans hesitant on more Ukraine aid

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Donald Trump has tapped Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who presented him with a plan to end the war in Ukraine, to serve as a special envoy for the conflict, the president-elect wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.

Kellogg, who was the chief of staff for the White House National Security Council during Trump's 2017-2021 term and national security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence, will likely play a central role in attempting to resolve the conflict in his new position.

While there is currently no special envoy for the war in Ukraine, Trump had privately expressed interest in creating the position.


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-eyes-retired-general-keith-kellogg-ukraine-envoy-sources-say-2024-11-27/

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Selling out Z.

[LastDemocratInSC]

1. Don't fret, he will deliver "peace in our time".

[C0RI0LANUS]

2. LG Keith Kellogg and 6 Jan 2021

To LG Keith Kellogg's credit, on 6 Jan 2021 he reportedly told Anthony Ornato (WH Deputy CoS and former USSS S/A) why VPOTUS Mike Pence would not be evacuated from Capitol Hill:

“You can’t do that, Tony. Leave him where he’s at. He’s got a job to do. I know you guys too well. You’ll fly him to Alaska if you have a chance. Don’t do it.”

Kellogg made it clear that Pence would stay, even if he needed to remain all night.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Kellogg

[maxsolomon]

3. I laugh at their plan to "force" Russia to negotiate.

Last edited Wed Nov 27, 2024, 03:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Kellogg's plan for ending the war, which began when Russia invaded Ukrainian sovereign territory, involves freezing the battle lines at their prevailing locations and forcing both Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table, Reuters reported in June.
Richard Grenell, Trump's former acting director of national intelligence, was also in the running for the job, Reuters reported on Friday. During a Bloomberg roundtable in July, Grenell had advocated for the creation of "autonomous zones" as a means of settling the conflict.
Kellogg drafted his plan for Ukraine alongside Fred Fleitz, who also served as a chief of staff to the National Security Council under Trump.
Under their proposed strategy, the U.S. would tell Ukraine that it would only get more American weapons if it enters peace talks. The U.S. would at the same time warn Moscow that any refusal to negotiate would result in increased U.S. support for Ukraine. NATO membership for Ukraine would be taken off the table for the immediate future.

Basically, Russian gets everything they want (Novorussya & Crimea emptied of Ukrainians), and Ukraine gets nothing except an end to the bloodshed and destruction.

[neohippie]

5. This will not be as easy as Trump or anyone else who thinks it might be

The Ukraine has to be willing to reach an agreement and they are not going to be happy about giving up any land they want Crimea back too

If the US stops funding them the European NATO countries will try their best to fill in the void and the Ukrainians would rather fight than surrender

[maxsolomon]

7. I don't think it's realistic to get Crimea back.

Everything they've lost, they've lost. They probably know they can't continue the way it's been going the last year-plus. Too many losses, too much devastation.

Hard to see how they'd be able to drive Russia from Donetsk or Luhansk, much less Crimea when MFer and the GQP cut them off entirely.

They need to focus on escaping Russia's orbit: EU and NATO membership.

[neohippie]

15. Musk is not to be trusted and shouldn't be allowed to conduct US foreign policy

Musk has been helping Russia and secretly talking with Putin for the last couple of years


https://www.intellinews.com/elon-musk-s-starlink-is-turning-the-tide-of-the-ukraine-war-in-favour-of-russia-348292/

Russian troops have significantly improved operational coordination and efficiency due to the proliferation of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system, The Washington Post has reported.

In 2022, Starlink was initially provided free of charge to Ukrainian forces following Russia's invasion of the country, and was later funded by the Pentagon, which allocated $14.1mn for a six-month contract. However, according to The Washington Post, Russian units have increasingly acquired Starlink terminals, shifting the balance of communication technology on the battlefield.

This development has enabled Russian forces to improve their capabilities in occupied Ukraine, marking a stark contrast to their previous reliance on traditional radio. Citing sources within the Ukrainian military, the newspaper stated that the proliferation of Starlink terminals has transformed Russia’s combat abilities, with better communication and coordination facilitating a level of operational effectiveness that was previously lacking.

"Before, the Russians couldn't control some of their movements, manoeuvres, artillery, infantry," one quoted officer said, highlighting that when Ukraine intercepted Russian radio transmissions, they frequently observed soldiers providing incomplete or incorrect information to their commanders.

The implications of Starlink's use are particularly evident in a number of high-profile military engagements, such as the recent fall of Vuhledar. An officer from the 72nd Mechanised Brigade, which has been defending the Vuhledar area since 2022, told The Washington Post that the communication capabilities offered by Starlink have played a crucial role in facilitating Russian advances. This advantage is compounded by challenges such as manpower shortages on the Ukrainian side.

This situation has also raised questions about the responsibility of Musk and SpaceX in preventing the unauthorised use of Starlink by enemy forces. Efforts to mitigate the illegal use of Starlink terminals are complicated by the fact that the same technology is used by both Ukrainian and Russian forces in close proximity.

US initiatives aimed at deactivating terminals based on geographical location risk disrupting communications for Ukrainian troops who rely on Starlink. Experts suggest that a more effective approach could involve collecting identifiers of authorised terminals and collaborating with SpaceX to block unauthorised access.

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

8. Russia just re-stated its maximalist position.

The Kremlin has announced it opposes freezing front lines and are now preparing to push into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Putin wants to conquer all of Ukraine and exterminate its population, finishing the job his hero Stalin started in the 1930s. Hopefully Putin will be dead (of natural causes, of course) before that can happen. See:

Ukrainska Pravda:
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/11/27/7486490/

Institute for the Study of War:
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-26-2024

Also, Ukraine is now making overtures to South Korea, a potential weapons supplier. The current Korean government seems less interested in reconciliation/capitulation the North than the one in place when Trump visited Kim during his first term. See Reuters:
https://www.reuters.com/world/ukrainian-delegation-visiting-seoul-ask-weapons-aid-media-reports-say-2024-11-27/

I expect that the Ukrainian government will politely agree to meet with whatever lackey Trump sends over, and then will act in accordance with their national interests, not Trump's. Trump can probably end or back off enforcement (such as it is) of sanctions against Russia and/or specific Russian individuals and organizations, which would be most unfortunate, but it's hard to picture him "forcing" Zelenskyy or the Ukrainian government writ large to obey or oblige any of Trump's whims. I expect lots of rage tweets when that happens.

BTW, did anyone notice the rouble today? As of right now it's 113/$1. It was 100/$1 last week.

[LiberalArkie]

4. I thought Vlad had that position sewed up. What happened?

[Traildogbob]

6. What

A cereal billionaire? Grrrrrrrate!!!🦁

[Harker]

9. Would you prefer General Mills? n/t

[Traildogbob]

10. 😂😂

[TexLaProgressive]

11. This may blunt Kellogg's scheme

https://democraticunderground.com/100219770033

[manicdem]

12. Freezing battle lines isn't so bad

Ukrainians are losing land every day. They lost almost half their land gains in the Kursk invasion not to mention constant losses in the Donbass region. I just don't see how Ukraine will gain their land back especially with Iran, China, and N Korea helping Russia. Unless US troops get involved.

[Xolodno]

13. I doubt any special envoy from the USA can stop the war, our aid makes us a party to it.

And Russia is gaining on the front lines between 200-300 meters a day. The real concern is if the lines break down. Not enough troops, morale down, etc. can make that happen. And any idea of NATO membership for Ukraine is going to be a non starter. Putin even told the Polish government awhile back that should he intervene militarily in Ukraine, he wouldn't take the entire nation but it may not be viable, and would not be opposed if it absorbed some traditional territory. Poland respectfully declined, but some in Warsaw have to be wondering and planning just in case.

[Figarosmom]

14. Trump and Kellogg

Are not in charge. Of Ukraine. Sounds like the NATO countries are stepping up. The only way trump would have any say would be to try and force us to support the other side. I wouldn't put it past trump to try and force Congress to send weapons and ammo and funds to Russia.