Written by John Irish, Gram Slattery, and Max Hunder
(Reuters) – US President-elect Donald Trump's new envoy to Ukraine has postponed a fact-finding trip to Kiev and other European capitals until after Trump's inauguration on January 20, according to four sources familiar with the planning of the trip.
Reuters reported last month that retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who is set to serve as Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, initially planned a mission to Kiev to meet with Ukrainian leaders in early January. His team was also arranging meetings with officials in other European capitals, including Rome and Paris.
The trip, which would have been the first time officials from the Trump administration have headed to Kyiv since the Nov. 5 election, has been postponed, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss private matters.
Kellogg is now expected to travel to Ukraine after Trump takes office, although no date has been set, the sources said.
It was not immediately clear why Kellogg postponed the trip.
Trump repeatedly said during his campaign that he could resolve the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, but he has made little progress toward that end. However, trying to end the conflict quickly remains a key priority for his incoming administration.
Neither Kellogg nor a representative of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington immediately responded to requests for comment.
