UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country if a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in the nation if a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the allies would "set up defense centers across Ukraine and build secure facilities for arms and defense matériel" to deter any potential invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the United States would play the primary role in verifying a truce.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet commented on this latest announcement.

Background and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, he further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would participate in any American-headed monitoring of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a key condition made by Ukraine.

The negotiator said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the talks.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "major advances" at the talks.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Last week, the Ukrainian leader said a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "determine the future of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Moscow has often said that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any compromise over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has so far ruled out surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This triggered a period of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents describing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President said.