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

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation if a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the two nations would "create defense centers across Ukraine and construct secure installations for arms and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also put forward that the United States would play the primary role in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet issued a statement on this latest development.

The Situation and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow presently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented Starmer.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, he added: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that the UK would participate in any US-led confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable safety pledges and robust reconstruction vows are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the discussions.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the event of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the cessation of the war.

Earlier, he said a settlement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the fate of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has often said that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This triggered a period of high-level negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the document.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents outlining possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, the President said.