WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.– President-elect Donald Trump stated Wednesday that he has actually picked Keith Kellogg, an extremely embellished retired three-star basic, to work as his unique envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Kellogg, who is among the designers of a staunchly conservative policy book that sets out an “America First” national security agenda for the inbound administration, will enter into the function as Russia’s intrusion of Ukraine enters its 3rd year in February.

Trump, making the statement on his Truth Social account, stated, “He was with me right from the start! Together, we will protect PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!”

Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has actually long been Trump’s leading advisor on defense concerns, worked as nationwide security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, was chief of personnel of the National Security Council and after that actioned in as an acting security advisor for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned.

As unique envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will need to browse a significantly illogical war in between the 2 countries.

The Biden administration has actually started advising Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to permit the conscription of those as young as 18.

The White House has actually pressed more than $56 billion in security help to Ukraine because the start of Russia’s February 2022 intrusion and anticipates to send out billions more before Biden leaves workplace in less than 2 months. The U.S. has just recently stepped up weapons deliveries and has actually forgiven billions in loans offered to Kyiv.

Trump has actually slammed the billions the Biden administration has actually invested in supporting Ukraine and has actually stated he might end the war in 24 hours, remarks that appear to recommend he would push Ukraine to give up area that Russia now inhabits.

As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, Kellogg composed numerous of the chapters in the group’s policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” is created to set out a Trump nationwide security program and prevent the errors of 2016 when he went into the White House mostly unprepared.

Kellogg in April composed that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will need strong, America First management to provide a peace offer and instantly end the hostilities in between the 2 warring celebrations.”

Trump’s proposed national security adviser, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has actually devoted his life to protecting our fantastic nation and is dedicated to bringing the war in Ukraine to a tranquil resolution.”

Kellogg included in numerous Trump examinations dating to his very first term. He was amongst the administration authorities who eavesdroped on the July 2019 call in between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian equivalent to pursue examinations into the Bidens.

The call, which Kellogg would later on state did not raise any issues on his end, was at the center of the very first of 2 House impeachment cases versus Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times.

On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence’s nationwide security advisor, eavesdroped on a heated contact which Trump informed his vice president to postpone the accreditation or object in Congress of President Joe Biden‘s triumph.

He later on informed House detectives that he remembered Trump stating to Pence words to the result of: “You’re not hard sufficient to make the call.”

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Baldor reported from Washington. AP author Eric Tucker in Washington added to this report.