The Trump administration is preparing to intensify economic sanctions against Russia in an effort to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, according to retired General Keith Kellogg, the US president’s special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In an interview with The New York Post, Kellogg said that while sanctions have weakened Russia’s economy, they remain underutilised. He estimated that enforcement is currently “only about a three” on a scale of one to ten, suggesting significant room for escalation.

The administration is particularly focused on tightening restrictions on Russia’s lucrative oil exports, he said, arguing that a combination of economic, diplomatic and military pressure could force Moscow into negotiations.

“The pressure just can’t be military. You have to put economic pressure, you have to put diplomatic pressure, some type of military pressures and levers that you’re going to use underneath those to make sure [this goes] where we want it to go,” Kellogg said.

He contrasted Trump’s approach with that of former President Joe Biden, whose strategy was to provide Ukraine with aid “for as long as it takes.”

“That is not a strategy, it’s a bumper sticker,” he said, criticising the Biden administration for failing to exert sufficient non-military pressure on Russia.

Kellogg acknowledged that a purely military solution is unlikely, describing the scale of violence in Ukraine as reminiscent of World War II. He warned that Russia, historically accustomed to high troop losses, would not easily be deterred through military means alone.

“For Russia, this is kind of in their DNA in military operations – basically, you’re in an attrition fight,” he said. “If you look at history, you’d never want to get into an attrition fight with the Russians, because that’s how they fight. They’re used to it. I mean, this is a country that was willing to lose – and did – 700,000 in the Battle of Stalingrad in six months, and they didn’t blink an eye.”

Negotiations, he suggested, will be necessary to end the war, with both Ukraine and Russia having to make concessions. While Kellogg did not confirm whether the Trump administration would formally propose a peace plan at the upcoming Munich Security Conference, he reiterated that ending the war remains a top priority.

Despite Washington’s willingness to exert pressure on Russia, Kellogg said Trump remains pragmatic, pointing to his reputation as a negotiator. He added that Trump’s team has been studying historical diplomatic successes, including President Theodore Roosevelt’s role in brokering peace during the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.

“You have to approach that in a very pragmatic way, you know,” he said.

Ukraine’s leadership has repeatedly opposed any negotiations between the US and Russia that do not include Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has ruled out concessions, including ceding territory to Moscow, and has urged Trump to meet him before engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that otherwise “it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on 7 February, Trump revealed that discussions with both leaders were imminent.

“I will probably be meeting with President Zelenskiy next week, and I’ll probably be talking with President Putin,” Trump said. “I’d like to see that war end.”

Asked where he would meet Zelenskiy, Trump said: “Could be Washington – well, I’m not going there.”