Keith Kellogg, who retired from Ukraine and Russia by President Donald Trump, will be in Kyiv on Monday, a senior Ukraine official said.
Trump said last week that he would make a “major statement” to Russia on Monday. Trump quickly stopped one of his diplomatic priorities, frustrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stance on the US-led peace efforts.
Trump has long boasted about his friendly relations with Putin, and has repeatedly said after taking office in January that Russia is more willing to reach a peace deal than Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump accused Zelenskyy of extending the war and called him a “no election dictator.”
However, Russia’s unremitting efforts in Ukrainian civilian areas have reduced Trump’s patience. In April, Trump urged Putin to “stop!” to launch a deadly barrage on Kyiv, and the following month said in a social media post that the Russian leader was “absolutely crazy!” as the bombing continued.
“I’m very disappointed with President Putin, and I think he’s what he means,” Trump said late Sunday. “He’ll talk so beautifully and then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that.”
The EU cannot buy Patriot missiles
Russia has already made a sensation against Ukrainian cities (including the capital, Kiev), and Ukraine’s air defense measures are working to counterattack, including hundreds of drones and cruise and ballistic missiles. The United Nations Human Rights Mission in Ukraine said June caused the highest monthly casualties in the past three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 injured. It said Russia launched drones and missiles in June 10 times that of the same month last year.
Meanwhile, Russia’s larger army is working to rush back to Ukrainian defenders in parts of the 1,000km (620mph) front.
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Trump confirmed that the United States is sending more urgently needed Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, and the EU will pay for the United States “very complex” weapons.
While the treaty does not allow the EU to purchase weapons, EU member states can and, just as NATO members are buying and sending weapons.
Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in Berlin on Monday that Germany has proposed funding for two new Patriot systems and is awaiting official negotiations on more possibilities.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius traveled to Washington on Monday to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Germany has given its three Patriot systems to Ukraine, and Pistorius said in an interview with the Financial Times that there are only six now.
Trump allies say war at the turning point
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, South Carolina’s top ally, said Sunday that the conflict was approaching a turning point as Trump showed growing interest in helping Ukraine fight back against the full-scale invasion of Russia. This is why Trump was previously considered a waste of American taxpayer money.
“In the next few days, you’ll see weapons flowing at record levels to help Ukraine defend itself,” Graham said on CBS’s “Facing the Country,” adding: “One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has done is playing Trump. And, you’re just watching in the next few days and weeks, and there’s going to be a huge effort to get Putin to power.”
Putin’s international investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, attended talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia in February, dismissed what he said was an effort to drive the wedge between Moscow and Washington.
“The constructive dialogue between Russia and the United States is more effective than the failed attempts that are doomed to be under pressure,” Dmitryev said in an article on the telegram. “Though the Titanic strives to destroy the Titanic by all means possible, this dialogue will continue.”
NATO chief visits to Washington
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will be held in Washington on Monday and Tuesday. He plans to hold talks with Trump, Heggs and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as members of Congress.
Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, said the talks during Kellogg’s visit to Kyiv will cover “defense, strengthen security, weapons, sanctions, protection of our people and strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and the United States”.
“Russia does not want a ceasefire. Peace through power is the principle of President Donald Trump, and we support this approach,” said Yermak.
Russian troops undertook an air strike in Shostka in the northern Ukraine region of Sumi, killing two people on Monday morning using scooter bombs and drones. It said four others were injured, including a seven-year-old.
From Sunday to Monday, Russia fired four S-300/400 missiles, 136 Shahed and bait drones to Ukraine. It said 61 drones were intercepted, and another 47 were intercepted or caused by obstacles or loss from the radar in flight.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense said its air defense measures covered 11 Ukrainian drones on the border with Ukraine and the affiliated Crimea and Black Seas.
–Associated Press writer Lorne Cook contributed to the report in Brussels and Geir Moulson of Berlin.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
