Amid shifting signals from President Trump on the war in Ukraine, special envoy Lt. Gen. (ret.) Keith Kellogg held a top-secret meeting with shluchim at Babi-Yar to discuss the challenges, concerns, and resilience of Jewish life in the region, telling them that the President wanted to hear their perspective.

By Anash.org staff

Amid shifting signals from President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, his special envoy to the region, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Keith Kellogg, held a unique and sensitive meeting yesterday with Shluchim serving as chief rabbis across Ukraine. The meeting took place under heavy security due to the ongoing war and was focused on the challenges, concerns, and resilience of Jewish life in the region.

The war in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. Entire communities were uprooted, while new ones have since been re-established in other cities. Hundreds of Yidden were killed—some in civilian areas targeted by missile strikes, others while serving in the Ukrainian army.

The meeting was initiated by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), which unites the 169 remaining Jewish communities under Ukrainian sovereignty. In attendance were Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of FJCU; his deputy Rabbi Rafael Rutman; Chief Rabbi Moshe Azman; Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Rabbi Yonatan Markowitz; Rabbi Yechiel Levitansky of Sumy; Rabbi Shaul Horowitz of Vinnytsia; Rabbi Dan Zukhta of Kropyvnytskyi; Rabbi Yosef Segal of Poltava; Rabbi Shalom Gopin, formerly of Luhansk; and Rabbi Daniel Lanau of Simcha Chabad in East Kyiv.

The gathering was held in a specially erected tent at Babi Yar—the infamous site where tens of thousands of Kyiv’s Jews were massacred by the Nazis and their collaborators. Joining the meeting was Andriy Yermak, the Jewish-Ukrainian chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky, widely viewed as one of his closest aides. The meeting opened with Rabbi Rutman reciting Tehillim chapter 23 in English. Those present said that Gen. Kellogg was visibly moved to tears by the words. Rabbi Azman then offered him a heartfelt blessing, praying for success in his mission to help bring peace to the region.

Rabbi Stambler shared, “We told Mr. Kellogg that this meeting, taking place in a place that symbolizes the destruction of Kyiv’s Jewish community, is itself a powerful testament to the revival of Jewish life in Ukraine. Although the war destroyed Jewish communities in over ten cities, new ones have been built elsewhere, and many existing communities have grown due to the influx of refugees. We enjoy strong support from the government in Kyiv as well as from regional and local authorities.”

He added, “President Trump, as the leader of the free world, has both the right and the responsibility to do what the world expects of him—bring peace to this region. Chazal tell us that before Moshiach comes, there will be clarity between light and darkness. We’re grateful that President Trump, like many others, now recognizes who is in the right. Of course, we fully support President Zelensky in all his efforts on behalf of Ukraine.”

One of the most striking addresses came from Rabbi Yechiel Levitansky, a California native who lives just 17 kilometers from the Russian border, only a few kilometers from the front line. Though he could have returned to the U.S., he chose to remain with his community in war-torn Sumy. “We’re here to help,” he said, “providing both material and spiritual support to Holocaust survivors and families with small children. The city is under constant and indiscriminate bombardment of innocent civilians. Ukraine,” he added, “has taken major strides since its independence from the Soviet Union to support minority communities. It is clear that we stand with Ukraine.”

Following the introductions by Rabbi Rutman, Mr. Yermak told Gen. Kellogg that approximately 200 Chabad Shluchim families currently live and serve across Ukraine. “We’re proud that they feel at home here. President Zelensky and the government were heartened to hear that these rabbis have tied their fate to that of the Ukrainian people. It gives us strength in our fight for justice and truth. We view them as ambassadors of light—not only in Ukraine, but representing us before the world.”

In response to claims that the war was launched to “de-Nazify” Ukraine, the rabbis told Gen. Kellogg that Ukrainian Jews and their communities feel completely secure. Isolated antisemitic incidents are rare, and when they do occur, the authorities deal with them swiftly and firmly.

Gen. Kellogg explained that he was sent by President Trump for a multi-day visit to Ukraine to gain a first-hand understanding of the situation. “The president wants to hear your views,” he said, “and it’s important for me to convey not just statistics but the human and Jewish experience in Ukraine. This meeting has given me new, objective insight into Ukraine, and it will help shape the report I bring back to President Trump. We must use the power G-d has granted the United States to make this region—and the world—a better place.”

Rabbi Yonatan Markowitz, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv, reminded the general that “President Trump visited the Rebbe’s Ohel before his election to pray for success. The Rebbe, who was born and raised here in Ukraine, began his life’s mission on this soil. His work expanded when he came to America—the ‘malchus shel chesed’—and from there it spread across the entire world.”