British and French troops floated as peacekeepers in West, as Russia clings to control in East
Ukraine could face a future partition akin to Berlin in the aftermath of the Second World War, according to an eyebrow-raising suggestion from General Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser and current envoy to Kyiv.
In an interview with The Times, Kellogg floated the idea of splitting Ukraine into zones of control, with British and French forces forming a Western “reassurance force”, while Russian troops would remain entrenched in the East. A demilitarised buffer zone manned by Ukrainian forces would separate the two sides. The United States, notably, would not deploy ground troops under this proposal.
“You could almost make it look like what happened with Berlin after World War Two,” Kellogg said, referencing the postwar division of the German capital among the Allies and Soviet Union. “A Russian zone, a French zone, a British zone.”
The comments are likely to spark alarm in Kyiv, where President Zelensky’s government continues to assert sovereignty over the entirety of Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory. Unlike post-Nazi Germany, Ukraine remains a functioning democracy with a popularly elected administration and broad international backing.
The proposal comes amid increasing frustration over Russia’s reluctance to engage in serious ceasefire talks. Moscow has already dismissed a US-backed bid for a 30-day ceasefire and continues to stall progress on a limited truce agreement for the Black Sea region.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Western allies are stepping up their support. On Friday, defence ministers from across Europe convened for a major summit of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), where they pledged a record €21 billion (£18.2 billion) in military aid. Among the commitments is a joint £450 million package from the UK and Norway, funding radar systems, vehicle repairs, anti-tank mines, and an unprecedented supply of drones.
Defence Secretary John Healey, co-chairing the summit alongside German counterpart Boris Pistorius, warned that 2025 would be “the critical year” for the war. “This UDCG could not meet at a more important time,” Healey said. “Our job as defence ministers is to get urgent military aid into the hands of Ukrainian warfighters.”
Mr Healey also responded to comments made by the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, who had raised doubts about the clarity of plans for a European peacekeeping force. “If we have such boots on the ground, what is the goal?” Kallas asked during an interview with BBC Radio 4. “Are they monitoring, deterring, fighting?”
Healey was firm in his reply: “Our planning is real, substantial and well advanced. The European Union is not part of that planning,” he told reporters, hinting at a growing divide between EU ambitions and NATO-led initiatives under the so-called “coalition of the willing”.
Kellogg’s remarks may also highlight fissures within the Western approach to the war. His notion of a divided Ukraine echoes a bygone Cold War era and has already provoked criticism from analysts who say such a solution would legitimise Russia’s aggression and reward the occupation of Ukrainian territory.
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Despite America’s apparent pivot away from leadership in European defence matters, US engagement remains visible. Friday’s UDCG summit – the 27th of its kind – was attended virtually by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Though some see Hegseth’s virtual presence as a sign of America’s decreasing involvement under President Trump, Pistorius insisted it was “not a matter of priorities” but rather “a matter of schedules”.
Nonetheless, the broader implication of Kellogg’s proposal raises uncomfortable questions for Kyiv and its allies. Partition may appeal to those seeking a swift end to the war, but to many Ukrainians and international observers, it risks enshrining injustice and undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
As 2025 approaches, and with no end to hostilities in sight, the West faces a delicate balancing act: intensifying support for Ukraine’s defence while navigating the geopolitical complexities of a potential – and highly controversial – ceasefire solution.
