UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have inked a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation if a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the allies would "create defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in verifying a truce.

Moscow has on multiple occasions cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet issued a statement on this latest declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces presently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The PM also stated that the UK would participate in any Washington-directed confirmation of a potential ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a central condition made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable headway" at the meeting.

He noted that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the case of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the end of the conflict.

Last week, Zelensky said a settlement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Kyiv's military must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

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

The earlier US-led multi-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This triggered a period of focused discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, Ukraine sent the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents detailing possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's recovery, he added.