US, White House envoy for Ukraine Kellogg plans to leave the Trump administration in January

The White House special envoy for Ukraine, retired lieutenant-general Keith Kellogg, will leave his role in January 2026, Reuters reports, citing four sources in President Donald Trump's administration. Kellogg communicated the decision to staffers and explained thatthe January deadline represents a "natural" term, based on legislation that limits the tenure of special envoys not confirmed by the Senate to about 360 days. His exit is considered a major loss for Kiev, as the general was considered one of Ukraine's few stable supporters within the new administration. According to Reuters, it is not yet clear who will replace him or whether the White House will seek Senate confirmation for the next envoy.

Kellogg, 81, has more than three decades of service in the US Army. Born in Dayton, Ohio, a graduate of Santa Clara University and trained at the Army War College, he served in the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War, also serving as a military advisor to Cambodian units. In later years he led the 3rd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division during Operation Just Cause in Panama, was deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and assumed command of Special Operations Command Europe. On 11 September 2001, he was Director J6 of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, responsible for communications and C4 systems of the Joint Force Command.

Concluding his military career in 2003 with the rank of lieutenant general, Kellogg worked in the private sector and then in national security policy: in 2017 he became Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the National Security Council in the first Trump administration, also briefly serving as acting national security advisor. From 2018 to 2021 he served as National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence.

Trump chose him as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia in November 2024, before taking office. On 15 March 2025, after diplomatic irritations from Moscow, the White House restricted his assignment officially to Ukraine alone. In this role Kellogg participated in diplomatic missions, meetings in Kiev and consultations with allies, and in July he represented Washington at the International Conference for Aid to Ukraine held in Rome.