Washington: An envoy of President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that Ukraine is to blame for the U.S. suspension of military aid, likening the abrupt decision to hitting a stubborn mule with a piece of wood to get its attention.
Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general appointed by Trump as special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had multiple opportunities to sign a U.S.-proposed mineral rights-sharing agreement. This deal is considered crucial to a still-unclear post-war security plan.
"Very candidly, they brought it on themselves—the Ukrainians," Kellogg said during a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations.
The suspension of aid, which is vital to Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s three-year invasion, was intended as a sharp and immediate wake-up call, Kellogg explained.
"I think the best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose," he said. "You got their attention, and it’s very significant, obviously, because of the support that we give."
Kellogg suggested that the pause in aid should be temporary, lasting only until Zelensky signs the agreement. However, he emphasized that the final decision rests solely with Trump.
"The protocol is—you sign a document, and once you sign a document that you want to go forward, that you’re serious about it, then I think you can move forward" on aid, he said.
Zelensky visited Washington last week to sign an agreement demanded by Trump, which partly aimed to compensate the U.S. for the billions of dollars in weapons sent to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. However, the meeting between the two leaders ended dramatically after Zelensky expressed skepticism about trusting Russian promises. Trump and Vice President JD Vance responded by accusing Zelensky of ingratitude.
Kellogg also insisted that the Trump administration is pressuring Russia to make a deal, including by enforcing sanctions on ships selling oil.
"It’s not so much more options," he said of Trump’s approach to pressuring Russia. "It’s the enforcement of the options."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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