WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has told associates he plans to leave the administration in January, four sources told Reuters, a departure that would mean the loss of a key advocate for Ukraine in the Trump administration.

The former national security adviser to Mike Pence and retired lieutenant general quickly fell out of favor with White House officials who saw him as too sympathetic to Ukraine.

The exit of the retired general and key Ukraine advocate will be unwelcome news as Kyiv comes under pressure to cede territory to Russia

President Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, will depart his position in January, the White House confirmed to The Hill on Thursday, as the president has renewed efforts to end

Kellogg has served as Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine since early 2025, in a role that did not initially require full Senate confirmation. Reuters reported that Kellogg’s decision to exit stemmed in part from the temporary nature of his role, which would have necessitated a confirmation process to extend his service beyond a 360-day tenure.

U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine, Gen. Keith Kellogg, will step down from his role in January, the White House confirmed on Nov. 19. Kellogg's exit will leave Ukraine without its chief advocate in the Trump White House at a critical moment,

EADaily, November 20th, 2025. There are more and more signs that the armed conflict on the Ukraine is nearing its end.

Gen Kellogg's departure would mean the loss of a key advocate for Ukraine in the Trump administration. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

In January, Kellogg was originally appointed as special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, and had earlier advocated conditioning U.S. military aid on the latter nation agreeing to participate in peace talks. Kellogg's role changed to only focusing on Ukraine when Trump brought in Steve Witkoff to serve as a special envoy to Russia.