UK and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The London and Paris have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and build protected structures for military hardware and equipment" to deter any future attack.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not commented on this new declaration.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia currently controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," commented Starmer.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a combined announcement, Starmer further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the future."

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

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and substantial reconstruction vows are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by Kyiv.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the negotiations.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable headway" at the negotiations.

He said that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Ukraine had been settled upon in the case of a potential ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant step forward" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the cessation of the conflict.

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

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, dismissing any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has to date excluded ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This led to a period of focused discussions – with all sides trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, Ukraine sent the US an new 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, the President added.