UK and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The British and French governments have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of military forces in the nation should a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated.

After talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "create defense centers throughout Ukraine and erect secure facilities for weapons and equipment" to prevent any future attack.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has on multiple occasions warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet commented on this latest announcement.

Background and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The PM went on to say that the UK would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term defense assurances and substantial economic promises are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a central condition made by Kyiv.

The negotiator noted the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such guarantees "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the discussions.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant advances" at the talks.

He added that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the war.

Last week, Zelensky said a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date rejected giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This led to a period of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal.

Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an new framework – as well as additional documents detailing possible defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.