Meaghan Mobbs, President of the RT Weatherman Foundation, daughter of General Keith Kellogg

Meaghan Mobbs is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, a paratrooper with service experience in Afghanistan, a doctor of clinical psychology, and president of the RT Weatherman Foundation.

Immediately after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the foundation focused its efforts on humanitarian aid — which to date has exceeded $150 million. Later, the team took on more complex but equally vital missions, including the evacuation of wounded American volunteers, their treatment and rehabilitation, and the repatriation of fallen soldiers' remains.

Mobbs is the daughter of General Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine. For a long time, this family connection was little known in Ukraine until The Washington Post wrote about it earlier this year.

The article read, "the Ukrainians might not have a better friend than Mobbs," who "stands at the not-so-common confluence of pro-Trump and pro-Ukraine America."

She has become the voice of those Americans who believe that supporting Ukraine is not only an act of solidarity but also a direct national interest of the United States.

Recently, Mobbs delivered a lecture titled "Supporting Ukraine: Strategic Interests and Humanitarian Realities" at the Vienna Diplomatic Academy. On the sidelines of the event, Mobbs spoke with Ukrinform about her personal motivation to help Ukrainians, how she fell in love with the country and its people, and shared her thoughts on the war.

THIS IS A FIGHT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IN UKRAINE, WHICH IS WHY I STAND ON UKRAINE’S SIDE

- The RT Weatherman Foundation, which you lead, began helping Ukrainians since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. What has been the main motivation behind your decision to support Ukrainians?

- So, a couple of things. The first is, obviously – as I’ve said repeatedly – this is truly a fight between good and evil.

I don’t know if I’ve ever told this story publicly, but I was a paratrooper; I served in a paratroop unit in the armed forces. Both my parents were paratroopers. I grew up with the belief that paratroopers – especially those deployed overseas or in Europe – symbolized the arrival of something good, of liberation, especially during World War II.

I will never forget the moment I saw images of Russian paratroopers over Ukraine. For me, it was the literal inversion of everything I believed in. These paratroopers weren’t coming to liberate; they were coming to occupy. They weren’t bringing freedom – they were bringing tyranny.

That moment became one of my main motivations. This was, and remains, a fight of good versus evil.

But I also had deep fears that if my government at the time failed to stand firm – just as it failed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan – the implications would be felt for decades to come. So I told myself: if our government can’t show up, then Americans need to.

I’m so grateful to have two amazing co-founders of the Foundation who fund most of our work. They share this belief in defending American values through time, energy, and resources.

For me, it’s both: a fight of good versus evil, and a belief that as Americans we have a responsibility to stand with those we said we would stand with.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH UKRAINIANS — AND WITH THEIR CUISINE.

- Do you have any personal connections to Ukraine? Had you ever been there before 2022 – maybe friends or contacts in the country?

- None. Zero.

I told this story before, when I was in fifth or sixth grade, we were asked to do a school project on a foreign country – and I picked Ukraine. I can’t even remember why, except that my teacher probably said something like, “There’s this amazing new country, the breadbasket of Europe – huge, full of opportunity.” And I thought, that’s the one I want to do.

I presented about Ukraine – I don’t remember how I found the information back then – but I remember being fascinated. I fell in love with the idea of a nation standing at the threshold of its own future, governed by its own people in a way it hadn’t been before.

I grew up deeply connected to our own history – 1776, this idea that America was born and fought against a major empire – and I think the story of Ukraine as a newly independent state resonated with me even as a child.

So no, I had never visited and had no connections, but I fell in love with Ukraine when I was ten.

- You have now visited Ukraine many times during the war.

- Yes. I don't know, 26 or 27 times since 2022.

 - What impressed you the most during those trips – and perhaps changed your own perception of the war?

- It’s always the people. How could you not fall in love with Ukrainians? They’re resilient, magnetic, creative, positive. There’s an edge sometimes, and that’s okay – that toughness comes from experience.

I remember visiting Kharkiv for the first time – I think it was July 2022 – and feeling that grittiness, that determination to fight for the city and the country. I fell in love with Ukrainians a thousand times over.

And if not the people – how could you not fall in love with Ukrainian food?! The kitchens in Ukraine are unparalleled. If you don’t love the people, you’ll definitely love the food. But for me, it’s always been the people.

THE WHOLE 'AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM' JOKE HAS BECOME A RUNNING THING IN OUR FAMILY

- President Zelensky once joked that your father, General Keith Kellogg – the U.S. President’s special representative for Ukraine – is “an air-defense system no worse than Patriot,” since the Russians avoid attacking Kyiv during his visits.  Do you happen to know when his next visit will be – so that Kyiv residents can finally get a good night’s sleep again?

- Unfortunately, I don’t know his next trip – though I’ve told him he needs to travel to other cities, so they can get a good night’s sleep too. Maybe Kharkiv next time!

That whole “air defense system” joke has become a running thing in our family. My daughters tease him – we even call him “The Cat.” There was a meme of “The Cat overlooking Kyiv” with a halo; we had it made into a poster for him for Christmas. (But don’t tell anyone!)

You know, my dad is like me – it’s hard not to fall in love with Ukraine. Once you’ve been there, you just feel you have to go back. So I don’t know when his next visit will be, but I hope it’s soon.

MY FATHER HELPED THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT ADAPT TO TRUMP'S STYLE

- Beyond the humor,  it shows how much trust Ukrainians place in your father. How do you view his contribution to efforts toward peace in Ukraine? How do you see his contribution to the efforts toward peace?

- I’m a daughter – so it’s hard for me to speak about my dad without seeing him as my hero. Both my parents are. He could do anything and I’d still say, “He’s the best.”

But if I take a step back and look at it strategically – he’s built trust and confidence with the Ukrainian people and government, which is critically important.

I think he’s also helped the Ukrainian leadership understand President Trump – his style, his approach – which is very different from President Biden’s. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian government initially assumed things would continue as before, but that wasn’t the case.

And I think that my father has been extraordinarily successful in assisting the Ukrainian government how to effectively navigate. He’s been with President Trump since 2015 or 2016; they have a very close relationship. He can explain things to the President matter-of-factly, with no hidden agenda – he’s not looking for a promotion or his next Washington job. He simply wants to serve the country.

My father is an America First person – he believes in America’s primacy – but that doesn’t mean abandoning Ukraine. It means recognizing that supporting Ukraine is in America’s national interest. And I think he’s been very effective in explaining that to President Trump.

PUTIN DOES NOT WANT TO NEGOTIATE, AND THAT IS THE MAIN OBSTACLE

- In your view, what does he see as the biggest challenge in fulfilling his mission?

- Russia.

They don’t want to come to the negotiating table – that’s been very clear. The biggest challenge is that you can’t end a war when only one side is willing to negotiate.

I think the President Trump is now showing remarkable strength – whether through intelligence sharing or discussions about Tomahawks – and there’s a growing belief that only strength will bring Putin to real negotiations.

But yes, the biggest obstacle has been Putin’s unwillingness to negotiate.

- The U.S. administration recently achieved a major breakthrough in the Middle East. Do you think this success could open a window of opportunity for President Trump to focus more actively on ending Russia’s war?

- Even some of President Trump’s biggest detractors have acknowledged what a remarkable success this was. What he achieved in the Middle East is incredible.

For any other president, there would’ve been ticker-tape parades in every city – but because it’s President Trump, that hasn’t been the case.

So, I would say that for the President, this has been an amazing achievement. And, following your question, I do think this should be the next step – that there has to be a follow-on to this success, that this momentum should absolutely carry forward into peace between Russia and Ukraine.

I mean, he even said it in his speech to the Knesset — he said that “Russia is next.” And when President Trump says something – he means it.

So my hope is we’re going to see that pivot. This meeting on Friday is going to be a discussion about: how do we end this war? How is the war going to be ended? And so yes, my hope is that now a lot of effort is going to be dedicated to exactly that.

- What are your expectations for this upcoming meeting on Friday between President Zelensky and President Trump?

- From what’s being said publicly, I think they’ll discuss the necessary mechanisms and levers that need to be addressed to build a viable path toward peace. Peace doesn’t just happen – it’s a complex process with steps forward and back.

I hope President Zelenskyy presents some potential levers, and President Trump, as the leader of the free world, recognizes which ones he can use to push Putin to the negotiating table.

THROUGH THEIR COURAGE ON THE FRONT LINES, UKRAINIANS CONVINCED TRUMP THAT THEY 'HOLD CARDS'

- Do you think Ukraine has managed to convince President Trump that it still “has cards” – that it’s worth continued support?

- Yes, absolutely. What’s shown Trump that Ukraine has "cards" has been the courage on the front line. It has been the remarkable capability of Ukrainians to fight for their country that has demonstrated to the President Trump that Ukraine “holds cards“, and the people’s willingness to resist has proven that predominantly.

I will also say that Director Ratcliffe of the CIA has done a remarkable job helping the President understand just how many cards Ukraine, in fact, has – and allowing that to be part of the decision-making.

So I would say it’s a combination of a couple of things that led to that. As a result, I think the President is quite aware that there are many more cards in Ukraine’s hands than was initially believed.

TRUMP REALIZED THAT PUTIN WAS MANIPULATIVE TOWARD HIM

- For Ukrainians, it’s clear that Putin isn’t seeking peace – only using "talks" as a tactical tool while intensifying attacks on the battlefield and against Ukrainian cities. Do you think President Trump now recognizes that?

- I think he does. The biggest thing he recognized is that Putin tried to play him for a fool – and President Trump is no fool. When he realized, I think, that Putin was being manipulative toward him, that was a tipping point. You don’t manipulate President Trump. I think that recognition is what led to all of this.

I actually do think the Alaska summit mattered. Many people were furious about the Alaska summit – they thought it was horrible – but in some ways it was a brilliant decision, because it brought Putin to our territory. First off, we showed them that our strategic air force is vastly superior to his – so that was a bit of deterrence right there. It was simply a reminder: by the way, remember who we are.

Then sitting down and seeing Putin unwilling to budge – Trump needed to hear that; he needed to sit down and meet face to face and see Putin not willing to negotiate. But importantly, it also signaled to the American people something crucial. What many people missed is that support for Ukraine after the Alaska summit skyrocketed.

President Trump demonstrated a willingness to dialogue and to give diplomacy a chance to find a negotiated solution – and when that failed, it hardened American resolve. That allowed Americans to say, “No – we actually support Ukraine.” That’s one reason Republican support is increasing: Trump gave diplomacy a chance, it didn’t work, and now we all see who the aggressor is.

- How important do you see the possible transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine?

- I think it’s important. I don’t think it’s as decisive as some make it out to be – it’s a useful tool for deterrence and it has to be used effectively.

Do I think it’s the most important thing? Probably not. I think the economy is going to be the most important factor.

- If you could give President Trump one piece of advice regarding Ukraine, what would it be?

- That he must manifest peace through strength – that he should continue to demonstrate exactly what he’s doing now. We’re on a fantastic trajectory. The President should maintain what he has and then push harder when things begin to shift.

- What message would you like to send to Ukrainians who have been defending their freedom for more than three years now? And what message would you most like to send to Americans and Europeans about Ukraine today?

- As I said earlier, I believe the future of civilization is being fought over in Ukraine. Our willingness to commit to our values – to the fight for what is right – is playing out on Ukrainian battlefields.

 If we fail to achieve our goals, if we are found wanting or if we make the mistake of walking away and thinking this isn’t our fight, it will be our children who pay the price in blood – and I’m unwilling to let that happen.

Vasyl Korotkyi, Vienna

Photos: Ukrinform, US Institute of Peace, Ukrainian Interior Ministry, Ukraine House