Discussions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have taken a new turn as General Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s envoy to Kyiv, suggested the possibility of partitioning Ukraine into zones of control, reminiscent of Berlin post-World War II. Kellogg proposed this idea amidst persistent Russian resistance to accepting a truce, as reported by The Belfast Telegraph.
In his comments to The Times newspaper, Kellogg indicated that a split could see British and French troops stationed in the western parts of Ukraine, while Russian forces would maintain control in the east. He stated, “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.” This partition would involve Ukrainian forces operating in a demilitarised zone between these two areas. However, Kellogg clarified that the United States would not contribute any ground forces to this arrangement.
The prospect of dividing Ukraine in such a manner may raise serious concerns in Kyiv, particularly given the presence of a functioning Ukrainian government, unlike the situation faced by Germany after the war. This speculation comes on the heels of Russia's rejection of an American-backed proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, with indications that Moscow is also hesitant to agree to a more limited truce previously negotiated in the Black Sea.
In a parallel development, Ukraine's allies have committed an unprecedented 21 billion euros, approximately £18.2 billion, in military aid. This support package, announced on Friday, includes a significant contribution of £450 million from the UK and Norway earmarked for various military needs, such as radar systems, anti-tank mines, vehicle repairs, and a large supply of drones for Ukrainian forces.
Meanwhile, US envoy Steve Witkoff made another visit to Russia on Friday in efforts to persuade the Kremlin to accept a ceasefire, though confidence in achieving a pause in hostilities appears to be waning. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who led a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) earlier, highlighted the “ongoing aggression” from Russia, stating that “we must concede peace in Ukraine appears to be out of reach in the immediate future.”
US President Donald Trump shared his frustrations with Moscow regarding the stalled negotiations, claiming via social media that "Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war – A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!”
During a joint press conference after the UDCG meeting, Defence Secretary John Healey emphasised the critical importance of the moment, calling 2025 “the critical year for this war in Ukraine.” He urged allies to "step up our support for Ukraine in the fight," reaffirming the necessity of urgent military aid for Ukrainian forces.
Healey responded to comments from the EU's top foreign affairs diplomat, Kaja Kallas, regarding the clarity of goals for a potential European peacekeeping force. Kallas raised queries about the purpose of having boots on the ground, questioning whether their role would be monitoring, deterring, keeping the peace, or engaging in combat. In response, Healey asserted that their planning for a "coalition of the willing" is well advanced, and clarified that the European Union is not part of that planning process.
The recent UDCG meeting marks the 27th gathering of its kind, and the second led by Healey. Traditionally, these meetings have been chaired by the US defence secretary, but this shift reflects a perceived decrease in America’s involvement in European security matters following Trump's presidency. Notably, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth participated in the meeting virtually, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Pistorius dismissed any implications that Hegseth’s virtual attendance indicated a shift in priorities, attributing it instead to scheduling conflicts.
Source: Noah Wire Services