The United States is growing weary of the prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine, now in its third year, according to Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia. He made the declaration during an interview with Fox News on Saturday.
Reiterating Washington’s long-standing stance, Kellogg affirmed that Ukraine’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO remain unacceptable. He stated unequivocally that NATO membership for Ukraine was “off the table,” reinforcing the position held since 2008.
“We’ve been very clear: NATO is off the table. You’re not going to be part of it,” he said. “We’ve been talking about that since 2008 when Ambassador Burns told Condoleezza Rice this was a bridge too far.”
Kellogg’s remarks echo Moscow’s insistence that Ukraine must not be admitted into the Western military alliance—one of the central grievances cited by Russia in launching what has become the largest European conflict since the Second World War.
Despite the grim outlook, Kellogg expressed cautious optimism for a peaceful resolution. He indicated that the U.S. is advocating for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as an initial step towards truce negotiations.
“We are tired of what’s happening,” he declared. “We have got too many issues in the world that the United States must be involved in. This war is going on way too long.”
The retired General disclosed that both parties to the conflict have been provided with a “term sheet” outlining key proposals. These documents are expected to shape the trajectory of ongoing negotiations.
Ukraine is scheduled to present its term sheet in London next week, where it will be reviewed and compared with Russia’s version to assess the prospects for agreement.
Commenting on a minerals-related deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, Kellogg underscored its strategic importance, noting Ukraine’s abundance of key resources that are scarce in America.
Ukraine’s mineral wealth includes cobalt (used in batteries and electric vehicles), graphite (for steel production), lithium (essential to phone and vehicle batteries), nickel (used in batteries and jet engines), and titanium (vital for fighter jet bulkheads and engines).
