January-24-2025
Washington, D.C. — Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to Ukraine, proposed lowering global oil prices as a strategy to weaken Russia’s financial capacity to sustain its war in Ukraine. Speaking in an interview with Fox News on January 24, Kellogg highlighted the need for economic measures alongside military support.
“Supporting Ukraine on the battlefield alone may not be enough to halt Russian aggression,” Kellogg stated. He pointed out that Russia profits significantly from oil sales, earning billions of dollars. “What if you drop that to $45 a barrel, which is basically a baseline break-even point?” Kellogg asked, suggesting that such a move could undermine Moscow’s financial stability.
Kellogg also raised the idea of using Russia’s frozen assets to finance Ukraine’s defense, particularly for purchasing U.S. weapons. “Using Russian frozen assets to buy U.S. arms is one piece of the puzzle that needs to be discussed,” he said, noting that while it may not be a complete solution, it is worth considering in broader policy discussions.
Kellogg’s remarks reflect ongoing debates over how economic tools can complement military efforts to pressure Russia into ending its invasion of Ukraine.
