Keith Kellogg proposes division of Ukraine, evoking Berlin model after World War II

White House envoy Keith Kellogg’s controversial proposal to resolve the Ukrainian conflict by dividing the country into zones controlled by international forces raises concerns about a possible ‘divided Ukraine’ similar to post-war Germany

The White House Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has put forward a controversial proposal regarding the end of the Ukrainian conflict. According to his vision, Ukraine could be divided into controlled zones, similar to what happened in Berlin after World War II. In his proposal, Franco-British forces could occupy the area west of the Dnipro River, while Russian forces would be in control in the east. A demilitarised zone of about 30 kilometres between the two areas would act as a buffer.

Kellogg suggested that such a solution could reduce provocations towards Moscow and avoid the risk of direct conflict between Western and Russian forces. However, he stressed that the goal is not to formally divide Ukraine, but to establish an international control structure that protects Ukrainian sovereignty.

This proposal sparked heated debates, as it symbolically recalls the division of Germany, which could be inconvenient for Kiev, which is committed to preserving its territorial integrity. Nevertheless, the military forces of France and Great Britain, along with other countries willing to participate, could be deployed to ensure stability west of the Dnipro, without direct American participation on the ground.

Meanwhile, another crucial conversation took place between White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, which took place behind closed doors in St. Petersburg, focused on various aspects of the agreement for a possible truce in Ukraine, but produced no immediate results. Witkoff also met with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian envoy for foreign investment, as part of a long round of negotiations, but the Kremlin admitted that no immediate ‘breakthrough’ was expected.

Expectations regarding a possible conclusion of the negotiations remain low, mainly due to the stalemate in the ceasefire and truce talks, with the Ukrainian border issue still central. Sources on the Axios website have suggested that if the conflict does not end, Trump may impose new sanctions on Russia in response to the failure of negotiations.

In the same week, prisoner exchanges between the US and Russia continued, with the release of Krenia Larina and Arthur Petrov. These exchanges highlighted the intense diplomatic pressure both superpowers are exerting on each other, while the situation in Ukraine remains uncertain.

Kellogg, in a meeting with Trump, brought forward the idea of a solution that would involve the recognition of Russian sovereignty over the occupied and annexed regions in 2022, but Kiev has already stated that it will not accept such a concession. In this context, the US administration is trying to understand Russian President Putin’s position, but the difficulties in reaching an agreement remain evident.

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