Trump envoy says Ukrainians 'brought it on themselves' after US pauses aid and intelligence sharing

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said the pause is already having an impact on Kyiv, adding that the Ukrainians "brought it on themselves."

"The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose," Kellogg said at an event Thursday at the Council on Foreign Relations. "You got their attention."

Kellogg said it was made clear to the Ukrainians before last week's Oval Office meeting that the talks would focus on signing a critical minerals deal. The agreement, which the two sides still have not signed, would give the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth deposits and could be of value to U.S. aerospace, electric vehicle and medical manufacturing.

Trump administration officials have said the economic pact would bind the U.S. and Ukraine closer together and would give Russian President Vladimir Putin pause before considering malign action against Ukraine in the future. Zelenskyy had been pressing the White House for explicit security guarantees, to no avail.

Kellogg said last week's talks went sideways because Zelenskyy pressed Trump — who is trying to play the role of intermediary to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia — to side with Kyiv.

Zelenskyy later called the heated words "regrettable" and said he's ready to sign an agreement.

Trump in an exchange with reporters on Thursday said he believed his administration had made "a lot of progress" in recent days with both Ukraine and Russia, but did not specify how.

"I think what's going to happen is Ukraine wants to make a deal, because I don't think they have a choice," Trump said. "I also think that Russia wants to make a deal because in a certain different way — a different way that only I know, only I know — they have no choice either."

In his nightly address Zelenskyy confirmed that talks between Ukraine and the U.S. are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia next week.

"I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the crown prince," said Zelenskyy, referring to Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne of the oil-rich kingdom. "After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace."

Another Trump special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that senior administration officials are arranging to hold talks with top Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. Witkoff noted that Zelenskyy has been apologetic in recent days about the White House blowup and expressed gratitude. He was circumspect about whether the minerals deal would be signed during the expected meeting in Saudi Arabia. "We'll see if he follows through," Witkoff said.

But Kellogg said he couldn't guarantee a resumption of weapons deliveries even if Zelenskyy accepts the deal.

"That's up to the president," Kellogg said. He added, "You don't negotiate peace discussions in public. You don't try to challenge the president of the United States in the Oval Office."

Trump said in a speech before Congress on Tuesday that Zelenskyy had written to him to say he appreciates U.S. support for his country in its war with Russia. Trump said Zelenskyy told him that Ukraine is ready to negotiate a peace deal with Russia as soon as possible and would accept the minerals agreement with the U.S. to facilitate that.

Although Trump said he "appreciated" getting the letter, he did not say if it would affect his policy toward Ukraine.

The suspension of U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine will damage Ukraine's ability to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks against military and civilian targets, according to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War. The research group said suspension of all U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine would also allow Russian forces to intensify their drone and missile strikes against the Ukrainian rear, affecting millions of Ukrainian civilians and the growth of Ukraine's defense industrial base.