Russian officials have informed US counterparts that they do not want Keith Kellogg involved in high-level discussions to end the war in Ukraine. Reuters reported this, citing a US official and another source familiar with the situation.

Kellogg Absent from Key Meetings

Recently, Kellogg has missed several important diplomatic meetings. For example, he did not attend a Saudi Arabia meeting on Tuesday with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and a Ukrainian delegation. Similarly, he was absent from a US-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia in February.

However, officials have not confirmed whether Russia’s request caused his absence or when exactly it was made. Nevertheless, a US official stated that the request was not accepted. Instead, Kellogg sent his senior staff member, Eli Rosner, to the latest Saudi meeting.

White House Defends Kellogg

Despite Russia’s opposition, the White House continues to support Kellogg. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt reaffirmed his role in diplomatic efforts.

“President Trump has utilized the talents of multiple senior administration officials to assist in the bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution,” Hewitt said on March 13.

War’s Devastation and Ceasefire Talks

Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine war has caused widespread destruction. It has killed or injured hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. Furthermore, the conflict has significantly increased tensions between Moscow and the West.

During recent Saudi talks, the U.S. and Ukraine tentatively agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. However, on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the proposal required significant revisions before Russia could consider it.

Kellogg’s Tough Stance on Russia

At the same time, Russia’s request to remove Kellogg comes as some former Russian officials claim he supports Ukraine too much. As a retired lieutenant general, he has strongly condemned Russian aggression.

For instance, after a Russian missile and drone attack on Ukrainian cities during Christmas, Kellogg criticized it on social media. He wrote:

“Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day…Launching large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lord’s birth is wrong.”

Nevertheless, despite his criticism of Russia, Kellogg continues to support Trump’s Ukraine policies. Recently, he defended the decision to pause some intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.