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WASHINGTON () President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kyiv on Monday to discuss security and sanctions against Russia with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump has said he will make a “major statement” regarding Russia on Monday, as he’s set to welcome NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to the White House.
Trump has expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unbudging stance on U.S.-led peace efforts in the war in Ukraine, and the U.S. is now set to deliver more defense missiles to Ukraine to help it fend off Russia’s intensifying aerial attacks.
“The European Union is paying for it; we’re not paying anything for it, but we will send it,” Trump said on Sunday. “It will be business for us, and we will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice, and then he bombs everybody in the evening. There’s a little bit of a problem there. I don’t like it.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will also attend the meeting with Rutte.
Trump has announced plans to sell weapons to NATO that can then be provided to Ukraine. He has pushed for a ceasefire in the war and has threatened additional penalties against Moscow.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he hopes to advance a new sanctions package before Congress breaks for its August recess.
Senate Republicans told that a vote on a package of sanctions targeting Russia could take place as soon as this week.