Retired three‑star General Michael Kellogg, former Trump special envoy to Ukraine, warned on Tuesday that compelling Kyiv to hand over the Eastern Donbas would be imprudent and would signal that borders can be reshaped by force. Kellogg, alongside his former chief, argued that such a concession would damage U.S. credibility, European security, and embolden adversaries.

Kellogg warns against ceding the Eastern Donbas to Moscow

According to the report, Kellogg recalled his 2023 push for a deal that would have transferred the Eastern Donbas to Russian control, now urging the opposite. He said forcing Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia has failed to capture militarily would "not be prudence" and would tell the world that borders can be revised by weakness and violence.

White House’s preoccupation with Iran distracts from Ukraine peace talks

The former envoy noted that the peace process in Kyiv remains stalled while the Biden administration is "focused on the conflict with Iran," implying a strategic diversion of diplomatic resources. This observation, sourced from the same briefing, suggests that U.S. attention is split between two major flashpoints, potentially weakening leverage in negotiations with Moscow.

America First rhetoric clashes with a willingness to negotiate with Putin

Kellogg argued that a true "America First" policy demands projecting strength rather than capitulating to Vladimir Putin, whom he described as a regime that "kidnaps children and persecutes Christians." He emphasized that the issue extends beyond Ukraine, affecting the credibility of American power and the security architecture of Europe.

Will Kyiv be pressured to cede territory under future negotiations?

Open questions remain about whether any future peace framework will include a demand for Ukraine to relinquish the Donbas, and what role, if any, the United States will play in shaping such terms. The source does not provide details on who might enforce a land‑for‑peace swap, leaving the possibility of external pressure unresolved.

Historical echo: 2022’s failed Russian offensives and current diplomacy

The warning echoes the 2022 Russian offensives that stalled in the Donbas, after which Western leaders warned that rewarding military failure would set a dangerous precedent. Kellogg’s remarks reinforce that pattern, reminding policymakers that conceding ground already resisted by force could undermine deterrence.