Proposed Zones of Control by Trumps Envoy: A Blueprint for Post-Ceasefire Ukraine

In an interview with The Times published on Saturday, Keith Kellogg, the Special Envoy to Ukraine under U.S. President Donald Trump, proposed that British and French forces could establish areas of control within Ukraine. Kellogg indicated they might take on responsibilities west of the Dnipro River as part of a «reassurance force,» with a demilitarized zone designed to separate these forces from Russian-controlled regions to the east.

He likened the potential situation to the division of Berlin after World War II, where various countries maintained their own zones. Kellogg later clarified on X that the U.S. would not be sending troops.

«You’re west of the Dnipro, which serves as a significant barrier,» Kellogg explained, noting this arrangement would be «not provocative at all» toward Russia. He mentioned that the demilitarized zone could follow the current lines of control in eastern Ukraine.

Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired lieutenant general and former acting national security advisor during Trump’s presidency, stated that Ukraine is large enough to support multiple armies working to maintain a ceasefire. To prevent conflicts between the allied forces—British, French, Ukrainian, and others—and Russian troops, he insisted on the necessity of a buffer zone.

«By examining a map, you could establish, for want of a better term, a demilitarized zone (DMZ),» he noted, emphasizing that it could be monitored effectively with an accompanying no-fire zone.

However, he acknowledged the likelihood of violations occurring, as they inevitably do, while asserting that monitoring such a situation should be manageable.

Russia initiated its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Kellogg recognized that Russian President Vladimir Putin «might not accept» this proposal.

He later elaborated on X, explaining, «I was discussing a post-ceasefire resilient force to support Ukraine’s sovereignty. When I mentioned partitioning, I was referring to areas or zones of responsibility for an allied force (without U.S. troops), not suggesting a divide within Ukraine.»

Britain and France are leading discussions among a 30-nation «coalition of the willing» regarding the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine to fortify any ceasefire agreement that Trump might broker. London and Paris characterize this potential deployment as a «reassurance force» aimed at providing Ukraine with a security guarantee.

However, numerous uncertainties persist, including the size of the force, contributing nations, the mandate of the mission, and whether the U.S. would provide support.

Putin has repeatedly cast doubt on Volodymyr Zelensky’s «legitimacy» as president, especially following the conclusion of Zelensky’s initial five-year term in May 2024 due to Ukraine’s military conflict provisions that halt elections. Zelensky’s domestic rivals maintain that no elections should proceed until after the war concludes.

«If a ceasefire is achieved, elections will follow,» Kellogg stated, adding, «I believe Zelensky is amenable to this post-ceasefire, should a resolution occur, but that decision resides with the Ukrainian people and parliament, not us.»

Kellogg observed that U.S.-Ukraine relations are «back on track,» referring to renewed discussions regarding a potential agreement on Ukraine’s mineral resources. He mentioned that efforts would be made to transition this «business deal» into a «diplomatic deal» in the near future.