At the Munich Security Conference 2025, former National Security Advisor and Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, delivered what can only be described as a verbal sledgehammer to both the slightly hysterical moderator, Sarah Kelly, and the European establishment. With the kind of no-nonsense candor that has become a rarity in diplomatic circles, Kellogg laid out exactly why Misk (the failed negotiation framework) fell apart and why Europe, the ever-fractured Tower of Babel, is being sidelined in serious negotiations over Ukraine.
Moderator Gets More Than She Bargained For
The stage was set for a typical diplomatic dance, with vague statements and polished soundbites. But Kellogg wasn’t having it. When Sarah Kelly attempted to push the usual narrative about “inclusive European-led solutions,” Kellogg swiftly dismissed the idea with a dose of reality.
“If you think you’re going to kill your way out of this, you’re wrong,” he shot back, before proceeding to explain why the Misk framework was an absolute disaster. According to Kellogg, it was the classic European recipe for failure: too many voices, too much bureaucracy, and zero decisive action.
“You had a lot of people at the table, but no one actually in charge,” Kellogg stated flatly, making it clear that negotiations with Russia and Ukraine need strategic, disciplined leadership—not the disjointed mess of past European efforts.
The ‘Tower of Babel’ of European Diplomacy
Kellogg made it crystal clear that Europe won’t be sitting at the negotiating table when the real peace talks happen. The reason? The continent has devolved into a diplomatic Tower of Babel—too many voices, none of them speaking the same language (figuratively or literally), and absolutely no ability to agree on anything substantial.
“Europe will be considered, but not physically at the table,” Kellogg stated, throwing cold water on any hopes European leaders might have had of playing kingmaker in Ukraine’s fate. In essence, he called out the elephant in the room: Europe loves to posture and moralize but lacks the political will, military backbone, or unity to make meaningful decisions.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard tried to protest, arguing that if European nations are expected to send troops to Ukraine, they should have a say in the peace process. But let’s be real—when was the last time Europe took military leadership seriously? As Kellogg subtly pointed out, it’s the U.S. and Ukraine doing the heavy lifting, while European diplomats are still stuck in committee meetings.
Calling Out the Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’
Beyond torching the European diplomatic playbook, Kellogg also took direct aim at Russia’s financial lifeline: its so-called “shadow fleet,” which helps the Kremlin evade sanctions and keep the war machine running. He called for targeted U.S. action to dismantle this fleet, cutting off Russia’s main source of revenue—oil exports.
Instead of empty rhetoric, he laid out a concrete strategy: disrupt the shadow fleet, squeeze the financial channels, and make it impossible for Russia to sustain its military operations without significant concessions. Now that’s a strategy—not a press release.
Conclusion: Kellogg Says What Everyone’s Thinking
In a world of milquetoast diplomacy, Kellogg’s performance at Munich was a breath of fresh air. He didn’t waste time on fluff or virtue signaling—he told Sarah Kelly, the panel, and the entire European establishment exactly why their approach has failed and why the U.S. is taking the lead.
While some European leaders might clutch their pearls over being excluded, Kellogg’s position is grounded in cold, hard reality. Europe remains too divided to take decisive action, and the U.S. isn’t waiting around for another round of meaningless summits.
For those who appreciate blunt honesty over political theater, Keith Kellogg delivered a masterclass. The Tower of Babel just got a wake-up call, whether they like it or not.
Must See: Marco Rubio
In the video below Marco Rubio explains the similarities between the Nazi regime, where only one political party was allowed, and what we’re seeing to day, where Olaf Shultz wishes to quash the opposition and deny them a space at the table.
