Trump envoy says Ukraine ready to ‘de facto give up’ territory to Russia
Keith Kellogg has said Kiev wants to hold the current front line. Kiev has reportedly agreed to acknowledge Russia’s control over Crimea and four other regions, without formally recognizing Moscow’s sovereignty over them, as stated by US President...
TroibNews 
Keith Kellogg has said Kiev wants to hold the current front line.
Kiev has reportedly agreed to acknowledge Russia’s control over Crimea and four other regions, without formally recognizing Moscow’s sovereignty over them, as stated by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg.
In a Wednesday interview, Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum asked Kellogg if the US could accept Moscow’s demand for Ukraine to renounce claims to territories it considers under Russian occupation.
“Partially, yes,” Kellogg replied. “Look, the Ukrainians, Martha, have already said – they’re willing to give up the land… not de jure – forever – but de facto because the Russians actually occupied it. They’ve agreed to that,” he said. “They told me that last week.”
Kellogg indicated that Ukraine is seeking a ceasefire that would involve maintaining control over the territory it currently holds.
In his remarks, Kellogg mentioned a meeting with Ukrainian officials in London on April 23, where they agreed to “22 concrete terms” proposed by the US, including a 30-day comprehensive ceasefire, urging Moscow to “pick up on” the proposal.
Russia, however, has insisted that a complete ceasefire would require Ukraine to halt its mobilization campaign and cease receiving military aid from abroad. President Vladimir Putin has also called for Kiev to withdraw from the Russian territories it continues to claim. Moscow accused Ukraine of violating a previous 30-day ‘energy truce’ facilitated by Trump in March and a subsequent 30-hour Easter truce.
Following the 2014 US-backed coup in Kiev, Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, along with the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, followed in 2022 after referendums.
The agreement put forth by Washington reportedly includes US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, freezing the conflict along the current front lines, and acknowledging Moscow’s control over large parts of the four other former Ukrainian regions. Additionally, it would seemingly block Ukraine’s NATO membership and initiate a phased removal of sanctions on Russia.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Kiev has reportedly agreed to acknowledge Russia’s control over Crimea and four other regions, without formally recognizing Moscow’s sovereignty over them, as stated by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg.
In a Wednesday interview, Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum asked Kellogg if the US could accept Moscow’s demand for Ukraine to renounce claims to territories it considers under Russian occupation.
“Partially, yes,” Kellogg replied. “Look, the Ukrainians, Martha, have already said – they’re willing to give up the land… not de jure – forever – but de facto because the Russians actually occupied it. They’ve agreed to that,” he said. “They told me that last week.”
Kellogg indicated that Ukraine is seeking a ceasefire that would involve maintaining control over the territory it currently holds.
In his remarks, Kellogg mentioned a meeting with Ukrainian officials in London on April 23, where they agreed to “22 concrete terms” proposed by the US, including a 30-day comprehensive ceasefire, urging Moscow to “pick up on” the proposal.
Russia, however, has insisted that a complete ceasefire would require Ukraine to halt its mobilization campaign and cease receiving military aid from abroad. President Vladimir Putin has also called for Kiev to withdraw from the Russian territories it continues to claim. Moscow accused Ukraine of violating a previous 30-day ‘energy truce’ facilitated by Trump in March and a subsequent 30-hour Easter truce.
Following the 2014 US-backed coup in Kiev, Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. The Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, along with the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, followed in 2022 after referendums.
The agreement put forth by Washington reportedly includes US recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, freezing the conflict along the current front lines, and acknowledging Moscow’s control over large parts of the four other former Ukrainian regions. Additionally, it would seemingly block Ukraine’s NATO membership and initiate a phased removal of sanctions on Russia.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
