Britain and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have inked a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he said that the allies would "set up defense centers across Ukraine and build secure installations for military hardware and equipment" to deter any future invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the America would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Russia has on multiple occasions warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not issued a statement on this recent announcement.

Context and Ongoing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated Starmer.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a key requirement made by Ukraine.

He noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the negotiations.

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

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

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the cessation of the war.

Recently, he suggested a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the last 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has so far ruled out surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This led to weeks of focused discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an revised proposal – as well as additional documents describing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.