Trump is not ruling out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine according to his peace envoy LISTEN: Welcome to MAGAland - Daily Mail’s behind the scenes podcast with White House insiders By NIKKI SCHWAB, CHIEF CAMPAIGN CORRESPONDENT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA and ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 21:29 GMT, 17 February 2025 | Updated: 21:33 GMT, 17 February 2025 President Donald Trump has not ruled out U.S. troops being used as peacekeepers in Ukraine, envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg said Monday. Kellogg was at NATO headquarters in Brussels, ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's planned meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Tuesday meeting comes after President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone last week - the first time an American leader spoke to Putin since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Britain, Sweden and Germany already said they are open to sending troops to Ukraine as part of a post-war peacekeeping effort. 'The policy has always been that you take no options off the table,' Kellogg told reporters after his meeting with European NATO allies. 'You don't want to get into a negotiating position where options are taken up.' Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were accused of just that last week when they seemingly took NATO membership for Ukraine off the table. 'They've been saying that for years, that Ukraine cannot go into NATO, and I'm OK with that,' Trump said. Additionally, Hegseth said that it was 'unrealistic' to think that Ukraine could regain its pre-2014 borders - meaning Russia will retain some of the territory it has taken from Ukraine. U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Gen. Keith Kellogg, said Monday that President Donald Trump is not ruling out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine as part of a broader peacekeeping force President Donald Trump is spending the long President's Day weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, as members of his administration ready bilateral talks with Russia, which will take place Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Hegseth said Thursday at NATO headquarters that European allies would need to pony up more money for the continent's defense. 'Make no mistake, President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into "Uncle Sucker,"' the new Pentagon chief said. Vice President J.D. Vance also shocked an audience in Munich by chiding European allies for their immigration policies and trampling free speech. He used the example of an individual protesting at an abortion clinic. Kellogg's comments Monday will likely reassure European allies that the continent will not be solely responsible for maintaining the peace, should the U.S. and Russia broker a deal. Kellogg said during his NATO meeting Monday that the U.S. would not force Kyiv to accept said deal. The announcement of talks between the Americans and Russians has concerned Kyiv and European allies, who fear being sidelined and worry Trump will take an undesirable deal - as it was a top campaign promise to conclude the war quickly. Kellogg didn't open the door to the Europeans being involved in the talks during his visit to NATO headquarters. Bombed out buildings photographed Monday in Bilytske, Ukraine as the Russian assault continues despite potential peace talks coming soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone last week The Russian delegation arrives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (center) leading the contingent. Lavrov and the Russians will meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his U.S. delegation on Tuesday 'All their concerns will be known, and addressed as well,' he said. Representatives from Kyiv will also not be included. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an emergency meeting of European leaders in Paris as a way to deal with the U.S. and Russia's bilateral talks. President Donald Trump spent Monday at his West Palm Beach, Florida golf club - during a long President's Day weekend away at Mar-a-Lago - but spoke by phone with Macron. 'Today President Donald J. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron had a friendly call,' a White House official said in a statement after Trump had returned to Mar-a-Lago after golf. 'The leaders talked about the Ukraine War, the upcoming meeting of European nations tomorrow, and the talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials,' the official said. 'The call lasted approximately 30 minutes.' The French president's office called it a 'frank conversation' that lasted 20 minutes. Tuesday's talks in Saudi Arabia will consist of Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said. Lavrov and Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov will represent Russia. Trump has said he'll likely meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia as well. Donald TrumpSaudi ArabiaUkraineNATORussia Share or comment on this article: Trump is not ruling out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine according to his peace envoy Add comment