Background and Context
Keith Kellogg, the envoy of President Donald Trump to Ukraine, recently hinted at the possibility of long-range attacks by Kiev against Russia using weapons supplied by the United States. This statement comes after Trump’s shift in stance regarding the ongoing conflict.
Kellogg’s Interview with Fox News
In an interview with Fox News aired on Sunday, Kellogg was asked if Trump had authorized attacks within Russian territory following Moscow’s alleged deployment of fighter jets and drones that violated the airspace of several European countries.
“Based on what (Trump) has said and what Vice President (JD) Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have said, the answer is yes,” Kellogg asserted.
“Use the capability to strike deep. There are no sanctuaries,” he emphasized.
In a subsequent interview on the same channel, Vice President Vance indicated that Washington was also evaluating the sale of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Europe for transfer to Ukraine.
“As the President (Trump) said, we are considering it,” Vance declared, adding that Washington was examining “several requests from the Europeans.”
“The President will make the final decision in the best interest of the United States,” Vance concluded.
Russia’s Response
On Monday, Russia downplayed these statements. Dmitri Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, stated in a press conference that “there is no panacea capable of changing the situation on the front for the Kiev regime. There is no magic weapon. Whether it’s Tomahawks or other missiles, they can’t change anything.”
Trump’s Recent Statements on Ukraine
Last week, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said that Kiev, with the help of the European Union, was in a position to fight and recover “all of Ukraine to its original state.”
Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea following a 2014 operation and currently controls regions in eastern and southern Ukraine after Moscow’s large-scale invasion in February 2022.
Shift in Trump’s Stance
Kellogg’s comments mark a change in Trump’s position on Ukraine. In February, during a televised Oval Office discussion, Trump told Zelensky that he did not have “the cards” to win against Russia.
The Russian government vowed to continue its offensive following three-and-a-half years of conflict, and the Kremlin recently dismissed Trump’s claim that Russia was a “paper tiger” with a struggling economy.
Key Questions and Answers
- What did Kellogg suggest regarding Ukraine and Russia? Kellogg hinted at the possibility of long-range attacks by Kiev against Russia using weapons supplied by the United States.
- Who else supports this idea? Vice President Vance indicated that Washington is evaluating the sale of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Europe for transfer to Ukraine.
- How did Russia respond to these suggestions? Russia’s spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, dismissed the idea, stating that there is no magic weapon capable of changing the situation.
- What recent statements has Trump made about Ukraine? Trump stated that, with the help of the European Union, Kiev is in a position to recover all of Ukraine to its original state.
- How has Trump’s stance on Ukraine changed? Trump previously told Zelensky that he did not have the necessary “cards” to win against Russia, but now seems more supportive of Ukraine’s efforts.
