The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine if a peace deal be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct fortified facilities for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any subsequent incursion.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent declaration.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time controls roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a combined announcement, he noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The PM went on to say that Britain would take part in any Washington-directed verification of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a major demand made by Kyiv.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on establishing such pledges "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the talks.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "major progress" at the talks.

He said that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a possible truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the end of the conflict.

Earlier, he suggested a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Settling the last 10% would "decide the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of high-level negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the document.

Recently, Kyiv presented the US an new 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky stated.