---
title: "Keele Kellogg Explained Why Russia Began Striking Ukraine During His Visits: “I Am Now a Private Citizen”"
description: "Former U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg explained in an interview that Russia began striking Ukraine during his visits after he lost his status as a government official and became a private citizen."
date: 2026-08-26T14:34:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kellogg-explained-why-russia-strikes-ukraine-during-his-visits
tags: [kit-kellogg, ukraine, russia, war, odesa, trump-administration, military-strikes]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Keele Kellogg Explained Why Russia Began Striking Ukraine During His Visits: “I Am Now a Private Citizen”

![Kurt Kellogg at an official podium with microphones, explaining Russian strikes on Ukraine during his visits](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/26/kellog-obyasnil-pochemu-rf-bet-po-ukraine-vremya-ego-vizitov/kellog-obyasnil-pochemu-rf-bet-po-ukraine-vremya-ego-vizitov-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Keith Kellogg linked the start of Russian strikes during his visits to the loss of his status as a U.S. government official
- Kellogg stated his personal antipathy toward Vladimir Putin and is convinced that Russia is “losing” the war
- A number of sources still call Kellogg “Trump's special envoy,” which contradicts his own statement about his status as a private citizen
- Kellogg continues to visit Ukraine and Odesa Port as part of delegations to discuss infrastructure restoration

Former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg explained in an interview with journalist Ramina Esfahani why the Russian side stopped “sparing” Ukrainian cities during his trips to the country. According to him, the key factor was a change in his official status: after finishing his work in the U.S. government, he became a private citizen, and it was probably this that stripped him of the unspoken “immunity” that had previously ensured no strikes during his stays in Ukrainian cities. Earlier, in Ukraine, Kellogg was jokingly called “air defense,” because in no city he visited did Russia carry out missile or drone attacks.

### Loss of Unspoken “Immunity”

In his conversation with the journalist, Kellogg acknowledged that his last visit to Ukraine unfolded under a completely different scenario: Russian strikes on infrastructure and populated areas resumed even on the days when the American was on the country's territory. “I think Putin doesn't like me and I don't like him either. And I think that I am now a private citizen, a person who doesn't work in the government, and that probably also plays a role,” he stated. Thus, Kellogg effectively confirmed the existence of an unspoken “rule” under which Moscow had previously refrained from attacks during the presence of a senior U.S. official, and explained its cancellation by his loss of an official mandate.

### Personal Relations with the Russian Leader

In response to questions about how much Vladimir Putin's attitude affects him, Kellogg was extremely blunt: “On a very personal and professional level, I don't like him and he doesn't like me.” At the same time, he emphasized that he doesn't worry too much about what exactly the Russian dictator thinks of him. “I appreciate the opportunity to be in Ukraine and help the country when I have such an opportunity,” the former special envoy added. His words underscore that, despite leaving the government, he maintains an active public stance and continues to visit Ukraine as part of delegations.

### Assessment of the Course of the War and Moscow's Goals

Kellogg expressed his conviction that Russia will not achieve the desired result through an escalation of strikes. “He is not winning, he is losing. He is trying to break people's will, but that will not work,” he stated. Earlier, the American had also noted that he does not expect a swift end to the conflict, because, in his view, Vladimir Putin is not striving to end it. According to Kellogg's assessment, the Russian leader may be seeking to establish control not only over Luhansk Oblast but also over Odesa and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, which, in his words, indicates Moscow's ambitious territorial claims.

### Contradictory Data

The provided sources record a discrepancy in defining Kellogg's current status. In the interview itself, he explicitly calls himself a “private citizen” who “doesn't work in the government,” and links precisely this change to the start of Russian strikes during his visits. However, a number of publications, including RBC (rbc.ru), still use the formulation “Trump's special envoy Keith Kellogg” in headlines and texts, which may indicate either the use of an established title in journalistic tradition or that some materials were prepared before his formal departure from the administration. The exact date and circumstances of the termination of his powers are not specified in the provided sources, creating uncertainty in the chronology of the status change.

### Context of the Visits to Odesa

According to additional materials, Kellogg arrived in Ukraine with a delegation and visited Odesa Port, where he inspected the aftermath of Russian strikes on port infrastructure. The visit was tied to discussions on the restoration of port infrastructure, which underscores the practical nature of his trips even in the status of a private citizen. The very fact of continuing visits amid active Russian attacks on Odesa and its surroundings, in essence, confirms Kellogg's thesis that the previous “immunity” no longer applies, but at the same time does not stop him from being present on the front line of diplomatic and humanitarian pressure on Russia.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Kellogg explained why Russia began striking Ukraine during his visits](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/kellog-poyasniv-chomu-rf-pochala-biti-ukrayini-1787754635.html) - Основной источник: интервью Келлога Рамине Эсхакзай, цитаты о статусе частного лица, отношениях с Путиным и оценке войны.
- [Keith Kellogg arrived in Ukraine with a delegation: what is the purpose of the visit](https://glavred.info/ukraine/kit-kellog-s-delegaciey-pribyl-v-ukrainu-kakova-cel-vizita-10790276.html) - Подтверждает факт продолжения визитов Келлога в Украину с делегацией.
- [Trump's special envoy Keith Kellogg arrived in Odesa](https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/6a88514a9a79478952d4bd83) - Подтверждает визит в Одессу, однако использует титул «спецпосланник Трампа», что противоречит словам самого Келлога о статусе частного лица.
- [Keith Kellogg visited Odesa Port and inspected the aftermath of Russian strikes](https://nv.ua/ukraine/politics/vizit-kita-kelloga-v-odessu-obsuzhdenie-vosstanovleniya-portovoy-infrastruktury-50634680.html) - Подтверждает практическую составляющую визита: осмотр портовой инфраструктуры и последствий ударов.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Why did Russia begin striking Ukraine during Keith Kellogg's visits?
**A:** Kellogg himself suggested that the reason lies in a change in his status: after finishing his work in the U.S. government, he became a private citizen, and it was probably this that stripped him of the unspoken “protection” from strikes that had existed during his official mandate.

### Q: What did Kellogg say about his relationship with Vladimir Putin?
**A:** Kellogg stated: “On a very personal and professional level, I don't like him and he doesn't like me.” At the same time, he emphasized that he doesn't worry about Putin's attitude and appreciates the opportunity to help Ukraine.

### Q: Does Kellogg expect the war to end soon?
**A:** No. Kellogg previously stated that he does not expect a swift end to the conflict, because, in his view, Putin does not want to end it and may be seeking control over Luhansk, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts.

### Q: Is Kellogg a current representative of the United States?
**A:** In the interview, Kellogg explicitly calls himself a private citizen who does not work in the government. However, a number of publications still use the title “Trump's special envoy.” The exact date of the termination of his powers is not specified in open sources.