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Rubio and Kellogg Urge Trump to Take Cautious Approach to Russia, WSJ Reports
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Senior members of Donald Trump’s foreign policy team are split over how the president should approach Russia amid efforts to end the war in Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal on April 15.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg have advised Trump to adopt a tougher position toward Moscow.
According to sources cited by WSJ, they argue that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has not shown any real interest in ending the war and warn Trump against accepting Kremlin demands for territorial concessions from Kyiv. They are urging a more cautious and firm approach in any negotiations with Moscow.
In contrast, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East who has met with Putin three times, believes the Russian leader is seeking a peace agreement. WSJ reports that Trump currently leans toward Witkoff’s view.
Despite their differing assessments, all advisors reportedly share the goal of ending the war. However, the recent Russian missile strike on the city of Sumy, which killed 34 civilians, has sharpened the divide within Trump’s inner circle.
The strike prompted strong reactions: Rubio called it “horrifying,” Kellogg said it “crosses any line of decency,” and the National Security Council emphasized the urgency of resolving the war.
Meanwhile, Trump described the attack as a “mistake,” but refrained from blaming Russia directly, instead criticizing President Joe Biden and also pointing at both Putin and Zelenskyy for the ongoing war.
While Trump continues to pursue a diplomatic resolution, Kellogg and Rubio have warned that without sustained pressure, Moscow will continue to wage war. “We will know soon enough—in a matter of weeks, not months—whether Russia is serious about peace or not,” Rubio said earlier this month.
Earlier, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that his recent five-hour meeting with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg focused on a potential peace deal involving control over “five territories,” though he emphasized the talks went beyond that, touching on broader geopolitical and economic issues.
