The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a ceasefire be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the two nations would "establish military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified structures for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any future incursion.

The coalition members also proposed that the US would take the lead in verifying a truce.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this recent development.

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," commented the British leader.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, Starmer added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader also stated that the UK would take part in any American-headed monitoring of a possible truce.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and substantial reconstruction vows are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the negotiations.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "major progress" at the negotiations.

He added that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been reached in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, he indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the last 10% would "decide the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has often said that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far excluded surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the area of the Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, Kyiv sent the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents outlining potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President added.