Former Trump envoy urges Europe to lead on Ukraine ahead of NATO summit “Ukraine is in [y]our backyard”

US President Donald Trump's former special envoy for Ukraine has urged European nations to assume primary responsibility for Ukraine's security, arguing that the continent—not Washington—should lead efforts to address the war.

Speaking to the Polish agency TVP World, retired Lt. General Keith Kellogg said in his interview that his advice to European leaders ahead of next month's NATO summit would be to make clear to Washington that Ukraine is fundamentally a European security issue.

“America is going to be there,” Kellogg said, but Europe’s message to Trump, he added, should be: “We’re taking primacy for this, not you.”

The three-star general, who served in the US army for over 30 years, argued that European leaders should present Russia's invasion in the same way the United States views security threats close to its own borders.

“Cuba is in your backyard. We’re not going to interfere. Ukraine is in our backyard. This is our policy,” Kellogg said, describing what European leaders should tell Trump.

His remarks come ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara on July 7, where alliance members are expected to discuss transatlantic security and burden-sharing.

Although Kellogg acknowledged that Ukraine continues to depend heavily on US intelligence and advanced military technology, he said Europe has the capacity to take greater political leadership.

He also called on European countries to strengthen their own defence industrial base through greater cooperation in weapons manufacturing.

“I keep pressing the Europeans: Why don’t you have co-production?” Kellogg said.

Kellogg, who served as the special envoy for matters relating to Ukraine since the beginning of the second Trump administration until his retreat in December 2025, was also critical of some of the figures involved in Trump's diplomatic efforts, singling out Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

“What is their diplomatic background? What have they done? They’ve sold real estate,” Kellogg pointed out. “This is not a business deal. This is a conflict.”

According to the Polish broadcaster, Kellogg was widely regarded during his time in the White House as more aligned with Ukrainian and European positions on the war than Witkoff, who has often been perceived as advocating a more conciliatory approach toward Moscow.

Kellogg also warned against assuming that personal rapport with Vladimir Putin could alter the Russian leader's strategic objectives.

“Putin is a former KGB official, and you don't lose your stripes. Once you're KGB, you're always KGB,” he said.

Asked how the conflict could ultimately end, Kellogg said Russia's president must first be convinced that victory is unattainable.

“Putin must realize he’s not winning this fight,” the veteran militaryman said.

By Nazrin Sadigova