The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine should a peace deal be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has stated.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the allies would "set up defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and build secure facilities for military hardware and equipment" to discourage any potential incursion.

The allied nations also proposed that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this recent development.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently controls roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term," stated the British leader.

National leaders and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, he further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The PM also stated that London would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a key condition made by Ukraine.

The negotiator said the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the discussions.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the event of a potential truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge development" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the cessation of the war.

Recently, Zelensky indicated a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for negotiators.
• The Russian President has often said that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has thus far rejected giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.

This sparked weeks of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as additional documents outlining possible security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, he said.