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U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday, focusing on air defense systems and sanctions against Russia as the Trump administration seeks to advance peace negotiations in the ongoing conflict.
The meeting came one day after President Donald Trump announced new Patriot air defense system deliveries to Ukraine, marking a reversal from Washington's earlier pause on some weapons shipments. The timing underscored ongoing questions about the consistency of American support as the war enters its fourth year.
"We discussed the path to peace and what we can practically do together to bring it closer," Zelenskyy wrote on social media following what he described as a "productive" conversation with Kellogg.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized the need for strengthened air defenses, joint weapons production with Europe, and fresh sanctions targeting Russia and countries supporting its war effort. He called for U.S. leadership in confronting Moscow's continued aggression.
"It is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its unreasonable ambitions are curbed through strength," Zelenskyy stated.
Kellogg's visit occurred as Russian forces killed three civilians in eastern Ukraine and launched 136 drones and four missiles at targets across the country Monday, according to Ukrainian officials. Russian forces also claimed control of two villages in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Russia has escalated its aerial campaign in recent months, launching hundreds of drones on an almost daily basis against Ukrainian targets. Moscow claimed to have annexed the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions nearly three years ago despite lacking full military control over the territories.
Trump announced over the weekend that the United States would provide additional Patriot air defense batteries to Ukraine but specified that Washington would not cover the costs. The president is scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday and has promised to issue a "major statement" on the war.
Ukrainian soldiers welcomed the Patriot announcement despite concerns about timing and funding. "Better late than never," said a 29-year-old soldier identified by his call sign Grizzly, who is deployed in eastern Ukraine. "Because while we are here defending the front line, our families are unprotected. Thanks to the Patriots they are giving us, our families will be safer."
The Trump administration had announced earlier July it would pause some arms deliveries to Kyiv but has since shifted course, with the president criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin for intensifying attacks as U.S.-led peace talks stalled.
Kellogg's arrival in Kyiv follows his participation in a "Coalition of the Willing" meeting in Rome last week, marking the first direct American involvement in the initiative under the Trump administration. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had announced Kellogg's participation during Ukraine's Reconstruction Conference, describing it as a "clear sign" of transatlantic unity.
The diplomatic engagement comes as Ukraine continues to face extensive reconstruction needs following what Zelenskyy has described as a "comprehensive war" requiring comprehensive rebuilding efforts. The Ukrainian president has also prioritized the return of thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia since the conflict began.
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