Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine-Russia pledges “peace through strength”

Keith Kellogg, nominated by US President-elect Donald Trump as the special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, has pledged to uphold the principle of "peace through strength," a doctrine famously championed by President Ronald Reagan.

Kellogg, who served as national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence during Trump’s first term, expressed his honor in a statement shared on social media platform X, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"I am honored by Donald Trump's appointment to serve as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia. It was the privilege of my life working for President Trump, and I look forward to working tirelessly to secure peace through strength while upholding America’s interests. I am ready with the commitment and dedication it deserves," Kellogg wrote.

This nomination comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with the United States continuing its significant involvement in the ongoing conflict. Trump's campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, echoed the sentiment of "peace through strength," asserting that Trump would restore this policy if he were to return to the White House.

The phrase "peace through strength" was a hallmark of Reagan's foreign policy approach, which emphasized maintaining a strong military presence as a deterrent against adversaries. Reagan’s doctrine argued that true peace could only be achieved when a nation projected sufficient strength to prevent aggression, countering the notion that a fragile balance of power could ensure long-term stability.

Kellogg advocates for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Ukraine. He proposed encouraging both Moscow and Kyiv to resume talks by establishing the current front line as a fixed boundary. According to CNN, he also suggested that Russia retain the territories currently controlled by them, in exchange for Ukraine’s accession to NATO. However, few of Trump’s close advisers support the idea of inviting Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Alliance in the near future, the network reports.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined his conditions for resolving the conflict. These included the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas and Novorossiya, Ukraine's rejection of NATO membership, the lifting of all Western sanctions against Russia, and the establishment of Ukraine's non-aligned, nuclear-free status.

By Vafa Guliyeva