Britain and France to Deploy Troops to the Country if a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "establish defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and erect secure installations for arms and military equipment" to discourage any subsequent attack.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a truce.

Russia has repeatedly stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not issued a statement on this recent development.

The Situation and Continuing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time controls roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The PM also stated that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed confirmation of a prospective truce.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable defense assurances and robust prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff noted the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the discussions.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "major progress" at the talks.

He noted that "robust" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the event of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, he said a settlement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

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

The original US-led multi-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of focused discussions – with all sides trying to revise the document.

Last month, Kyiv sent the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents outlining prospective security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.