Trump envoy says officials working 'very, very hard' on ending
Russia-Ukraine war
[August 26, 2025]
By ILLIA NOVIKOV
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Keith
Kellogg said in Kyiv on Monday that officials are “working very, very
hard” on efforts to end the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine,
as a lack of progress fuels doubts about whether a peace settlement
could be on the horizon.
Officials are “hoping to get to a position where, in the near term, we
have, with a lack of a better term, security guarantees” that address
Ukraine's fears of another invasion by Russia in the future, Kellogg
said.
"That’s a work in progress,” Kellogg said of the potential security
guarantees after attending Ukraine’s annual National Prayer Breakfast
along with politicians, business leaders and diplomats.
A week ago, Trump said he had set in motion arrangements for direct
peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy. But
Russian officials have signaled that such a summit won’t happen any time
soon.
Trump said Friday he expects to decide on next steps in two weeks if
direct talks aren’t scheduled.
A stream of high-ranking visitors to Kyiv in recent days reflects
concerns around the U.S.-led peace drive.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Kyiv on Sunday for meetings
with Zelenskyy, pledging 2 billion Canadian dollars in aid, and NATO
Secretary General Mark Rutte was in the Ukrainian capital on Friday.
Germany’s vice chancellor and finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, arrived
in Kyiv on Monday to discuss “how Germany can best support Ukraine in a
possible peace process.”
Putin spoke on the phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on
Monday, the Kremlin said. Russia and Iran have close relations, and
Putin has also deepened ties with China, India and North Korea as
Western countries have sided with Ukraine in the war.
Putin and Pezeshkian are expected to meet next week when China hosts the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s annual summit, in Tianjin.
Germany, Norway vow more help for Ukraine
Klingbeil, the German vice chancellor, told Zelenskyy that Ukraine’s
allies have to “talk about what happens if President Putin does not
relent, if he wants to continue the war.”
Germany will continue to stand by Ukraine, he said, echoing sentiments
by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store earlier in the day.
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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, shakes hands with
Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine,
Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
Norway’s multibillion-dollar military and civilian support for Ukraine’s
fight to defeat Russia’s invasion will stretch into next year, Store
said in Kyiv. He said he will propose to the Norwegian Parliament
spending $8.45 billion on Ukraine next year.
Store, whose country borders Russia, told a news conference with
Zelenskyy that Ukraine is “defending a critical principle on the
European level” by refusing to accept Russia’s seizure of territory.
Analysts say Putin thinks he can outlast Western governments’ commitment
to Ukraine and use his bigger army to capture more Ukrainian land while
peace efforts are under discussion.
Norway on Sunday pledged about 7 billion kroner ($695 million) toward
air defense systems for Ukraine. Norway and Germany are jointly funding
two U.S.-made Patriot anti-missile systems, including missiles, with
Norway also helping procure air defense radar, Store said.
Drone strikes continue
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 104 strike and decoy drones
overnight, targeting the country's north and east. There were no
immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Ukraine has continued long-range drone attacks on Russia, hitting oil
refineries, armories and transport hubs and causing commercial flight
disruption during the summer vacation period.
On Sunday, an Egyptian plane carrying Russian tourists from Sharm El
Sheikh to St. Petersburg diverted to Tallinn because the Russian city’s
international airport had temporarily closed due to a drone attack, the
Estonian daily Postimees reported.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 23
Ukrainian drones overnight and Monday morning over seven Russian
regions, both on or near the border with Ukraine and deeper inside
Russia.
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Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.
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