UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country if a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of troops in Ukraine if a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has stated.

After talks with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the allies would "create military hubs across Ukraine and construct protected facilities for arms and defense matériel" to prevent any future invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet responded on this latest declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and substantial economic promises are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Kyiv.

He noted the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the discussions.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "major headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" safety pledges for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a potential ceasefire.

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

Last week, he said a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the last 10% would "decide the future of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the center of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has so far rejected surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This triggered weeks of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the proposal.

The previous month, Ukraine sent the US an revised framework – as well as separate documents detailing possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, the President said.