UK and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Agreed

The British and French governments have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in the nation in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine and build secure installations for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would play the primary role in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked Starmer.

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

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that the UK would participate in any US-led verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by Kyiv.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

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

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant headway" at the meeting.

He added that "strong" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the event of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major step forward" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the war.

Earlier, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This triggered a period of intensive discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

Recently, Kyiv presented the US an updated proposal – as well as additional documents detailing possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he said.