Key facts
- Former U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg believes Russian President Vladimir Putin's territorial ambitions extend beyond Donbas.
- Kellogg compared Putin to Adolf Hitler, referencing Neville Chamberlain's appeasement before World War II.
- He suggested that Putin could end the war immediately if he chose to.
- Kellogg estimated Russian casualties to be between 1.2 million and 1.4 million.
- He asserted that Putin is not succeeding in Ukraine and that Russia has suffered significant battlefield losses.
Former U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not cease his war efforts even if Russia captured all of Donbas. In an interview, Kellogg drew parallels between Putin's territorial demands and those of Adolf Hitler before World War II, expressing concern that appeasement could lead to a larger global conflict.
Kellogg, a retired three-star U.S. Army general who previously served in the Trump administration, believes Putin's ambitions extend beyond current Russian-occupied territories. He argued that Putin could end the war immediately if he wished, and that any peace agreement must consider Moscow's future intentions. Kellogg suggested that Ukraine should focus on a long-term vision for victory, rather than solely on territorial control at the end of hostilities.
Recalling a past meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin, Kellogg noted that Putin had expected Washington to secure Ukrainian territorial concessions in Donbas, which did not materialize. Kellogg praised Ukraine's resistance and continued Western support, comparing it to Britain's fight against Nazi Germany. He estimated Russian losses to be between 1.2 million and 1.4 million, and concluded that Putin is not succeeding in his objectives in Ukraine.