**US Administration Divided on Ukraine War Strategy**
The US administration is split over how to end the war in Ukraine. This was reported by NBC News on February 5.
Some people in the administration, including General Keith Kellogg and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, want the White House to use its influence over Russia to make Russian President Vladimir Putin back down. They think this can be done through economic, military, and diplomatic pressure.
Others in the administration believe that withdrawing US military support from Ukraine is the best way to end the war quickly. This would mean forcing Ukraine to give up and stop fighting.
The US has a lot of influence over Russia, but it’s not clear if the US is willing to use this power.
**Russia’s Economy Weakens**
Russia’s economy is getting weaker, making Putin more vulnerable to economic pressure like sanctions. If the US increases support for Ukraine on the battlefield, Russia might lose even more and be more willing to make a deal.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he will not agree to any deal that involves giving up land to Russia. About 20% of Ukraine’s territory is currently occupied by Russia.
**Pressure on Ukraine**
As Ukraine faces mounting losses, there is pressure on Zelensky to consider compromises. He was asked about ceding land to Russia in exchange for peace and said that Ukraine cannot legally acknowledge any occupied territory as Russian.
However, he has acknowledged that some territories might be returned through diplomacy rather than military means.
**Trump’s Envoys**
General Keith Kellogg was officially appointed as Trump’s envoy on February 3. He praised Trump’s willingness to engage with Putin and said that the new US president can broker a satisfactory deal for both Putin and Zelensky.
Kellogg suggested using frozen Russian assets to purchase American weapons for Ukraine. He also suggested securing a temporary ceasefire before negotiating a permanent resolution, with the election winner potentially overseeing future talks with Moscow.
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