The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of armed personnel in the nation should a peace agreement be made with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has stated.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the allies would "create operational bases across Ukraine and construct secure structures for military hardware and defense matériel" to prevent any potential incursion.

The partner countries also proposed that the America would play the primary role in verifying a ceasefire.

Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this new announcement.

Background and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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

National leaders and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The British leader added that Britain would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a prospective truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

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

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant progress" at the meeting.

He noted that "robust" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the instance of a possible truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant advance" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the fighting.

Last week, Zelensky said a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the last 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far excluded surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.

This triggered weeks of intensive diplomacy – with all sides trying to adjust the document.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an revised framework – as well as separate documents describing prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.