The future U.S. President Donald Trump’s special representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has issued a direct response to Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev, who dismissed Trump’s proposed peace plan for Ukraine, suggesting President Vladimir Putin would “tell it to go to hell.”
In an interview aired on Fox News, Kellogg was adamant in his rebuttal to Malofeyev’s remarks, stating, “Better get back in your box and better understand President Trump, because clearly you don’t and you clearly do not understand the United States of America.” Kellogg’s response came after Malofeyev’s comments made headlines, sparking controversy about the prospect of negotiations.
Days earlier, Malofeyev, an influential Russian businessman with close ties to the Kremlin, spoke to the Financial Times, openly doubting the viability of Trump’s peace initiative. “Kellogg comes to Moscow with his plan, we receive him, and then tell him to go to hell because we like none of it. That’s all the negotiations,” Malofeyev told the publication.
The blunt language used by Malofeyev underlined Moscow’s apparent skepticism about U.S. diplomatic moves, as Russia remains steadfast in its position regarding the ongoing conflict. Malofeyev further stated that for any discussions to be “constructive,” the focus must shift beyond Ukraine, expanding to the “future of Europe and the world.”
Thanks @SandraSmithFox @AmericaRpts for having me on today. Sandra always gets to the heart of an issue as she did at the close-underestimate President-elect Trump at your peril and never underestimate the United states of America. pic.twitter.com/oV7lJILpWs
— Keith Kellogg (@generalkellogg) December 2, 2024
Kellogg’s response reflects a deepening frustration among U.S. officials who have been trying to promote diplomatic pathways amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has seen no substantial de-escalation. As a close ally of Trump, Kellogg has been instrumental in crafting the proposed negotiations, which he argues are aimed at ending a conflict that continues to destabilize Eastern Europe and threaten broader regional stability.
Observers noted that the exchange between Kellogg and Malofeyev highlights the deep rift in understanding between Western negotiators and the Russian establishment. Malofeyev’s dismissive attitude towards Kellogg’s peace plan underscores how challenging it remains to find any common ground, as Moscow appears unwilling to compromise on key issues that have kept the war ongoing.