Boris Bondarev  

Expert on Russia, Strategic Stability, Arms Control

Feb 2, 2025

It seems that the Trump administration facing a real tough issue of the war in Ukraine and being unable to produce a competent solution prefers to embark on the path of least resistance: “Let’s do what Putin wants and thus we end the war”.

Territorial concessions to Putin? Ok. No NATO for Ukraine? Ok. Elections in Ukraine to get rid of Zelensky and disunite the country at war further undermining its defense capabilities? Of course!

Just wonder who will be there eventually to blame for the failure of such an approach? Biden? Zelensky? Woke?

Comment from :

Glen Grant

Sadly Kellog is showing misguided loyalty instead of sticking to his honour and values.

Kirill Tikhomirov

I saw Kellogg’s sit-down interview yesterday. He said they want UA Presidential elections after the conflict is stopped, not now. He explained that Zelenskyy is legitimate president and reiterated that UA Constitution requires some time after the war stops for elections to happen. Sure, Kellogg’s comment about elections might be important or just restatement of the fact that is blown out of proportion.

Glen Grant

Kirill Tikhomirov this is just one element of a lack of hard support for Ukraine. He knows what is needed but is not speaking out about this.

Anton Shekhovstov

The pressure on Ukraine to hold elecfions is coming from the EU too, it’s just not as public as the US case.

Hanu Krosing

Anton Shekhovtsov can you elaborate? Who in EU is pressuring a country with 20% of territory occupied and a large proportion of people displaced Internally or externally to hold war-time elections where most of the conditions of free and fair elections cannot be guaranteed, especially the right of the election points not being bombed during voting.

Jacques Quigley

Anton Shekhovtsov They want it renewed because not just russia, but the entire west is scared of Ukraine. They think if they can cause political turmoil in Ukraine like assad, gadaffi, then Ukraine will just be a lost cause. That’s the real aim. To make Ukraine a lost cause because they are scared. Do you know what I say? To hell with them. Let you reap what you sow.

Hanu Krosing

Jacques Quigley even worse. A significant portion of voters are under occupation where both a) Russia will not allow any Ukrainian voting be cause it claims it is Russian territory with Russian citizens and b) will force everybody to vote for their preferred candidate or they will have to go through de-ukranization again.
Why both a) and b) ? Because Russia loves to confuse the West and to brutalize what it considers its own people.

Volodymyr Dubovyi

What is driving Trump? His personal vendetta against Zelensky, as one who caused Trumps impeachment? Or Putin’s request to pave the way for a leader more acceptable to him?
This makes the situation even more dangerous. Who are the alternative candidates? Zelensky’s party has banned Petro Poroshenko (who first faced Russian aggression) from Parliament, persecuts him and ruins his reputation via media. He has no chance! General Zaluznij? Zelensky separated from the service and send with diplomatic mission to England, once General started to gain popularity. A year being in shadow gives him a miserable chance.
There are are two possible outcomes of elections: Zelensky again or candidate promoted by Russia. Nobody knows what about Trump and Putin are negotiating.

Pavel K

To understand what happens in Ukraine one needed to follow it in details from day one simultaneously bearing a deep understanding of what motivates putin, his clique and russia in general. I will insist that both US Administrations never invested in this and fundamentally misunderstand the war. For them it’s war for land. In reality it’s a war of pseudo ideological mafia-like regime using russia as a feeding ground to take “back” ex-Soviet states because it sees the West as rotten and weak but fat prey and worthy prise. This war can be only considered by a defeat of russia. Both Administrations lack the readiness to take the responsibility for that.
As China is watching how the West reacts and sees its weak and hypocritical support of Ukraine from both sides of US political spectrum it may surely forecast same reaction for attack on Taiwan and S.Korea (by Chinese proxy Kim). Then G-d help us all.
Hard times brought weak, coward and hypocritical leaders. What a shame…

Waldemar Witek

ruzzian animals attacked sovereign country, collective West did everything to make defenders’ life as difficult as possible, and now they apply pressure in the name of ‘elections.’ In the meantime, putler murdered most of his opposition, he keeps bombing civilians, women and children!!!, and the collective West calls for action, every week they call for action!!! WTF is wrong with this planet???

William Parks

These statements are just pandering to Russia in an attempt to give Russia an opening to interfere in Ukraine’s elections. These statements are an embarrassment to America.

Oleg Osadchyi

Why not put pressure on Russia to hold a real election? We all know the last one was rigged by Putin, just as we know Zelensky was legitimately elected by the people. Yet, some still want to challenge Ukraine’s legitimacy to see if it still stands.

Aaron Hynes

It’s absurd to insist on an election when 20% of the country’s territory and millions of its citizens are under occupation or displaced and therefore unable to participate in the election. That would only enable Russia to argue that the government of Ukraine has no legitimacy in occupied territories because people there didn’t vote. Just as many of America’s allies in Europe, the the UK and elsewhere postponed elections during both world wars, Ukraine is right to do so now.

John Mulhall

Kellogg should have stuck to his cornfakes, lol.

When a retired general is so indoctrinated into the cult of Trump, that he forgets the US’s President FD Roosevelt’s presidential term was extended beyond the 2nd term to the end of WW2 in 1945, how can anybody see this as nothing other then a false narrative been weaponized against the freeworld by Trump and his authoritarian associates. FDRs term for reference here: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/franklin-roosevelt

Its a cynical, but honest thought, to think that anything he says can be take with an ounce of credibility. Ukraine must not surrender once square inch of land, and note Europe is getting finally getting ready for war. When we all grow tired, we focus on what matters.

On related news, I also note Trump has just started a trade war with Canada, and Mexico. It is already been noted, by some Republicans, as the dumbest trade war in American history. So, it should therefore, come as no shock to Americans, that Trump as their pick, has no credibility in the freeworld as he seeks to dismantle America, starting with her reputation.