Envoy says Trump prepared to 'double down' on Russia sanctions
US President Donald Trump may increase economic pressure to help resolve the Ukraine conflict, according to Keith Kellogg. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
More economic pressure could be applied on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict, Keith Kellogg has said.
US President Donald Trump is poised to ramp up sanctions against Russia to encourage a resolution to the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, according to Keith Kellogg, his special envoy for Ukraine.
Trump has committed to negotiating an end to the conflict and has reportedly tasked Kellogg with reaching a settlement within 100 days. Last month, he issued a warning about new sanctions if Moscow did not agree to a discussion, although he clarified that he is “not looking to hurt Russia.”
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Kellogg characterized the existing sanctions against Russia as “only about a three” on a scale of one to 10 regarding their economic impact.
“You could really increase the sanctions — especially the latest sanctions,” he noted, seemingly referencing the EU’s 15th package aimed at Russian oil production and exports.
Kellogg criticized former US President Joe Biden’s approach of pledging to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes, as much as it takes,” claiming that this stance lacks a strategic foundation and is merely “a bumper sticker.”
“The pressure just can’t be military. You have to put economic pressure, you have to put diplomatic pressure” on Russia, he asserted, adding that “If there’s anyone who understands leverage, it’s President Trump.”
Kellogg emphasized that Trump’s team is actively seeking to resolve the conflict, indicating that both Kiev and Moscow will ultimately need to concede some points to end the “industrial-size” killing.
He also dismissed a recent Bloomberg report that suggested he would unveil a peace plan at the upcoming Munich Security Conference.
Trump has consistently expressed his willingness to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the earliest opportunity to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin has indicated that it awaits clear signals from the White House.
However, Putin has remarked that any negotiations in the current climate would be considered legally “illegitimate” due to a 2022 decree from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky that forbids discussions with Russia.
This week, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiha mentioned that officials from the country hope to meet with Kellogg and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the Munich conference.
Zelensky claimed on Thursday that Trump currently does not have an official strategy to halt the conflict, stating, “Our teams will be working together because there can’t be a separate plan, created without us.”
He has urged Trump to follow the principle of “peace through strength” by maintaining US military support for Kiev and increasing pressure on Russia, compelling Moscow to comply with Ukrainian demands during potential peace talks.
Russia maintains that hostilities will cease only if Ukraine commits to permanent neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification while recognizing the territorial “realities on the ground.” Moscow has stated its openness to negotiations but insists that any agreement must include “reliable, legally binding agreements eliminating the root causes of the conflict.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump is poised to ramp up sanctions against Russia to encourage a resolution to the conflict between Kiev and Moscow, according to Keith Kellogg, his special envoy for Ukraine.
Trump has committed to negotiating an end to the conflict and has reportedly tasked Kellogg with reaching a settlement within 100 days. Last month, he issued a warning about new sanctions if Moscow did not agree to a discussion, although he clarified that he is “not looking to hurt Russia.”
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Kellogg characterized the existing sanctions against Russia as “only about a three” on a scale of one to 10 regarding their economic impact.
“You could really increase the sanctions — especially the latest sanctions,” he noted, seemingly referencing the EU’s 15th package aimed at Russian oil production and exports.
Kellogg criticized former US President Joe Biden’s approach of pledging to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes, as much as it takes,” claiming that this stance lacks a strategic foundation and is merely “a bumper sticker.”
“The pressure just can’t be military. You have to put economic pressure, you have to put diplomatic pressure” on Russia, he asserted, adding that “If there’s anyone who understands leverage, it’s President Trump.”
Kellogg emphasized that Trump’s team is actively seeking to resolve the conflict, indicating that both Kiev and Moscow will ultimately need to concede some points to end the “industrial-size” killing.
He also dismissed a recent Bloomberg report that suggested he would unveil a peace plan at the upcoming Munich Security Conference.
Trump has consistently expressed his willingness to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the earliest opportunity to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin has indicated that it awaits clear signals from the White House.
However, Putin has remarked that any negotiations in the current climate would be considered legally “illegitimate” due to a 2022 decree from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky that forbids discussions with Russia.
This week, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiha mentioned that officials from the country hope to meet with Kellogg and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the Munich conference.
Zelensky claimed on Thursday that Trump currently does not have an official strategy to halt the conflict, stating, “Our teams will be working together because there can’t be a separate plan, created without us.”
He has urged Trump to follow the principle of “peace through strength” by maintaining US military support for Kiev and increasing pressure on Russia, compelling Moscow to comply with Ukrainian demands during potential peace talks.
Russia maintains that hostilities will cease only if Ukraine commits to permanent neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification while recognizing the territorial “realities on the ground.” Moscow has stated its openness to negotiations but insists that any agreement must include “reliable, legally binding agreements eliminating the root causes of the conflict.”
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
