Trump's envoy suggests Ukraine 'could be divided like postwar Berlin' as part of peace deal

By Flaminia Luck

President Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, has suggested the country could be partitioned “almost like Berlin after World War Two” as part of a peace deal.

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Kellogg, a key figure in US efforts to end the three-year war, proposed British and French troops could adopt zones of control in the west of the country as part of a “reassurance force".

Meanwhile, Russia’s army would remain in the occupied east.

Ukrainian forces would be positioned between the two, along with a demilitarised zone, reported The Times.

Kellogg, 80, stated that the Anglo-French-led force west of the Dnipro river, which bisects Ukraine from north to south and runs through Kyiv, would “not be provocative at all” to Moscow.

He added Ukraine was a big enough country to accommodate several armies seeking to enforce a ceasefire.

Earlier, Ukraine's allies pledged a record 21 billion euros (£18.2 billion) of military aid for Kyiv, the Defence Secretary announced as he warned that 2025 was "the critical year" for the war.

He went on: "You could almost make it look like what happened with Berlin after World War Two, when you had a Russian zone, a French zone, and a British zone, a US zone,” he said.

“You’re west of the [Dnipro], which is a major obstacle,” Kellogg said.

He later clarified by confirming that the United States would not be deploying any ground forces.

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Kellogg proposed the establishment of a demilitarised zone, approximately 18 miles wide, along the current lines of control in the east.

His proposals implicitly acknowledge that Ukraine will likely have to relinquish control of its eastern territories, which are currently occupied by Russia.

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine fears what Trump could mean for their war with Russia

The support announced on Friday includes a £450 million package from the UK and Norway to fund radar systems, anti-tank mines, vehicle repairs and hundreds of thousands of drones for Ukraine.

Drones have come to play an increasingly important role in the Ukraine war, with Mr Healey saying on Friday that 70-80% of battlefield casualties were now inflicted by the technology - significantly outnumbering those caused by artillery.