Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country if a Peace Agreement is Reached

The UK and France have inked a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine if a peace deal be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has declared.

After talks with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the two nations would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and construct fortified structures for arms and defense matériel" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this latest development.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The PM went on to say that London would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term safety pledges and substantial prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a key condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator noted the coalition had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such guarantees "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "major headway" at the talks.

He said that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Ukraine had been settled upon in the instance of a prospective truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.

Earlier, he indicated a settlement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "shape the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• Moscow has often said that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has so far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The two regions form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the proposal.

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an new 20-point plan – as well as separate documents describing possible security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky said.