Britain and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The London and Paris have signed a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "establish operational bases throughout Ukraine and build protected installations for weapons and equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the United States would assume leadership in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Russia has consistently cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent announcement.

The Situation and Continuing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently holds roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the recent discussions.

He stated at a joint press conference, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The UK prime minister also stated that the UK would participate in any Washington-directed monitoring of a possible ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable security guarantees and strong economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by Kyiv.

The negotiator said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the negotiations.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "major advances" at the meeting.

He said that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the instance of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.

Last week, he indicated a settlement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "shape the outcome of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Putin has often said that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, refusing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This sparked weeks of intensive discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, The Ukrainian government presented the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents describing prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.