PARIS — This week, senior advisors to President Donald Trump are slated to engage in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Munich Security Conference, focusing on strategies to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine brought about by Russia’s invasion that has spanned nearly three years.
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who serves as the special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, mentioned in an interview that the White House is finalizing the logistics for these important talks at this prominent international security meeting.
Among those attending the summit in Germany are Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Kellogg himself, all expected to participate in the discussions with Zelenskyy and his delegation.
Kellogg emphasized the importance of a joint meeting, stating, “It would probably be better for Zelenskyy if we all met together and talked through it as a group.” Meanwhile, Trump indicated that he is likely to converse with Zelenskyy during the week.
The U.S. President noted that his administration would leverage the Munich event to better assess how much support European nations are prepared to offer Ukraine in its defensive efforts against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
In preparation, Kellogg and other officials have been engaging with European diplomats in Washington regarding the situation in Ukraine. The Munich talks, however, mark a significant opportunity for Trump’s senior aides to convey the administration’s stance on foreign policy, specifically regarding the conflict in Ukraine, which Trump has criticized as overly burdensome on American taxpayers.
Trump has repeatedly raised concerns about Europe’s inadequate support for Ukraine, insisting that European nations should reimburse the U.S. for financial aid provided to Kyiv. Kellogg reinforced this sentiment by stating, “We will deliver our expectation to the allies,” expressing a desire to present options to Trump when he steps into the peace process.
In recent statements, Trump suggested that his team has initiated conversations with Russian counterparts and indicated prior communications with Putin, although he has not provided extensive details on these engagements.
Trump has also expressed a desire to forge an agreement with Ukraine to ensure access to the country’s rare earth materials as a condition for extending U.S. support in its battle against Russia. He explained that his aides are currently negotiating deals that would align U.S. financial assistance with the acquisition of critical resources, stating, “Because why are we doing this?”
Kellogg affirmed the potential of such agreements to bolster continued American economic support for Ukraine, saying, “The economics of that would allow for further support to the Ukrainians.”
Vice President Vance is set to lead the delegation arriving in Munich, marking his first international trip in this role. He is currently in Paris attending an artificial intelligence summit and is scheduled to meet with several world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, where the situation in Ukraine will be a key topic.
Similar to Trump, Vance has voiced criticisms regarding the previous administration’s substantial military aid to Ukraine during Joe Biden’s presidency.
