The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of troops in the nation in the event a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to negotiations with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "create military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and erect protected structures for arms and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would play the primary role in overseeing a truce.

Russia has repeatedly cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces presently occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to support Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The PM added that London would take part in any Washington-directed monitoring of a potential ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a central requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the discussions.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.

He said that "strong" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the event of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the conflict.

Recently, he suggested a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

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

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as additional documents detailing prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, he said.