US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg arrived in Kyiv on Monday, just several hours after President Donald Trump announced the United States would supply Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine, marking a major shift in his administration’s approach to the war.
“We welcome US Special Representative Keith Kellogg to Ukraine,” said Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, in a Telegram post. “Peace through strength is the principle of US President Donald Trump, and we support this approach,” he added.
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Kellogg said last week that he would be in Kyiv for a full week of meetings, coinciding with Trump’s expected announcement of what he has described as “a major statement on Russia.”
US envoy’s visit comes as Trump reportedly prepares to unveil a far more aggressive plan to arm Ukraine, moving beyond his earlier position of providing only limited defensive support.
According to multiple media reports, including Axios, the upcoming weapons package is expected to include long-range missiles and other advanced systems, US officials say.
The announcement is set for Monday in Washington, during a series of meetings between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Rutte is in the US capital for high-level talks and is scheduled to meet with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and members of Congress.
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While NATO did not specify the reason for the visit, it follows Trump’s recent statements that he was considering supplying weapons to Ukraine through NATO.
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are also slated to meet with Rutte, as they announced in an interview with CBS. As Graham put it, “a turning point regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is coming,”
The move comes as the Trump administration has signaled a shift in its stance towards Russia’s war in Ukraine. After a surprising pause in critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv, which impacted Patriot missiles, among other weapons, the Pentagon has resumed shipments at Trump’s direction.
On Sunday, Trump confirmed that Patriot systems would be sent to Ukraine. “We’re not paying anything for them,” he said during remarks at Joint Base Andrews. “But we will get them Patriots, which they desperately need.”
He declined to specify how many systems would be sent, but said Ukraine needs better protection. “They’re going to have some because they do need protection, but the European Union is paying for it,” he said. Trump added that Ukraine would “pay us 100 percent for them.”
When asked whether his Monday statement would involve sanctions, Trump replied, “We’re going to see what we will see tomorrow.”
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