Critics are putting President-elect Donald Trump on edge after a key adviser appeared to backtrack on a major campaign promise.
Trump has been saying he will end the war between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office or sooner.
But retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, whom Trump tapped to serve as a special envoy to the two nations, told Fox News last week that it would take a long time — echoing comments previously made by Trump himself.
“Let’s put it in 100 days and then go back and figure out how we can do this in the near term to make sure that the solution is strong, sustainable, and that this war ends to stop the killing,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, launching a costly and brutal campaign. The Pentagon last year estimated that more than 600,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded in the conflict, while Ukraine said last month that 43,000 of its soldiers had been killed and another 370,000 wounded.
Kellogg told Fox News that he has “great confidence” in Trump’s ability to end the bloodshed.
“I think what people need to understand is, he’s not trying to give Putin or the Russians something,” Kellogg said. “He’s actually trying to save Ukraine and save its sovereignty, and he’s going to make sure it’s equal and right.”
However, his 100-day timetable is a far cry from Trump’s vow to end the war as quickly as possible.
“I’m going to fix that within 24 hours, and if I win, before I get into office, I’m going to fix that war,” Trump said in 2023. “You are 100% sure.
Trump walked away from that last week when asked about the timeline.
“I hope I have six months,” Trump told reporters at a press conference last week. “I hope for a long time before six months.”
Critics of the president-elect offered indirect reminders of his previous promise to end the war as quickly as possible:
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