The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Forces to the Country if a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has stated.

Following talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "create operational bases across Ukraine and erect fortified structures for arms and military equipment" to deter any subsequent attack.

The partner countries also put forward that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet issued a statement on this latest announcement.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time holds about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," commented the British leader.

Top officials and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a combined announcement, Starmer added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that London would be involved in any US-led verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and robust economic promises are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by Kyiv.

He said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such assurances "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "significant advances" at the negotiations.

He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the war.

Last week, Zelensky indicated a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal.

The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents outlining potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he added.