Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, has suggested that British and French troops could help secure parts of Ukraine after a ceasefire, with each country managing specific areas west of the Dnipro River. His proposal would include a demilitarised buffer zone to separate allied forces from Russian-controlled regions.read more
Keith Kellogg, special envoy to Ukraine for US President Donald Trump, said British and French troops could take responsibility for different areas in Ukraine after a ceasefire, in an interview with The Times.
He proposed that these troops could operate west of the Dnipro River as part of a “reassurance force,” separated from Russian-occupied areas in the east by a demilitarised zone.
Kellogg compared it to the division of Berlin after World War II, where different Allied powers controlled different sectors. However, he clarified on social media that the US would not send any troops and that this idea wasn’t about dividing Ukraine, but about maintaining peace.
“You’re west of the Dnipro, which is a natural barrier,” he said, arguing this setup wouldn’t provoke Russia. He also suggested creating a buffer zone, or no-fire zone, along the current front lines to avoid direct clashes.
“There will probably be violations,” he admitted. “But they’ll be easy to monitor.”
Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general and former national security adviser during Trump’s first term, said Ukraine is large enough to host several foreign armies helping enforce peace. However, he admitted that Russian President Vladimir Putin “might not accept” the plan.
He later posted on X to clarify: “I was talking about a peacekeeping force to support Ukraine’s sovereignty after a ceasefire, not about dividing the country.”
Meanwhile, the UK and France are leading a 30-nation group discussing the possible deployment of such a force, which they call a “reassurance force” to support any future ceasefire agreement led by Trump. But many details are still unclear — such as how many troops would be involved, who would participate, and what role the US would play.
Putin has questioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s legitimacy, since his five-year term officially ended in May 2024. Under martial law, elections in Ukraine are suspended until the war ends. Zelensky’s opponents have supported the delay.
Kellogg said if a ceasefire is reached, elections could follow. “I think Zelensky is open to it, but it’s up to the Ukrainian people and parliament,” he said.
He also noted that US-Ukraine relations are “back on track,” pointing to revived talks over a deal involving Ukraine’s mineral resources. He said officials hope to turn it from a business deal into a diplomatic one in the coming days.