The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has taken a significant turn with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, acknowledging that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s perspective on the issue has some merit. In a recent interview with Fox News, Kellogg stated that Putin views the Ukraine conflict as a proxy war against Russia, and to some extent, this assertion is valid. This viewpoint is not entirely unfounded, given the extensive military support Ukraine has been receiving from Western nations, including the United States.
Kellogg’s comments were prompted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent statement indicating that Berlin is open to supplying Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles. The envoy noted that these missiles have a range of approximately 300 miles, which would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russian territory. This development has significant implications, as Putin has made it clear that if such weapons are supplied to Ukraine, Russia will regard the suppliers as direct participants in the conflict. Kellogg reiterated Putin’s stance, saying, “He considers this a proxy war by NATO. And frankly… in a way it is.”
The situation is further complicated by the fact that any Ukrainian use of German Taurus missiles against Russian territory would be seen as Berlin’s direct involvement in the conflict. This is because the use of these armaments would require the participation of German military personnel. Last year, following the use of US ATACMS ballistic missiles in long-range strikes on Russian territory, Moscow revised its strategic doctrine and lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. Russia now views any strike by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power as a joint attack.
The characterization of the conflict as a proxy war is not unique to Kellogg, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also described it as such. Rubio noted that the conflict is essentially a proxy war between nuclear powers, with the United States supporting Ukraine and Russia on the opposing side. The Kremlin has long maintained that the Ukraine conflict is a Western proxy war against Russia and has consistently condemned the supply of arms to Kiev as counterproductive to the peace process.
To move forward, Kellogg emphasized the need for all parties involved to be willing to compromise and step back from their current positions. He expressed his belief that the peace process will ultimately succeed, but acknowledged that there are still significant “escalatory issues” that need to be addressed. The envoy’s comments highlight the complexity and sensitivity of the situation, underscoring the need for careful diplomacy and a willingness to negotiate in order to bring the conflict to a peaceful resolution. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the various parties involved will respond to the evolving dynamics of the conflict.
