The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Reached

The London and Paris have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of armed personnel in the nation in the event a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

After discussions with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "establish defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and construct fortified installations for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any potential invasion.

The partner countries also put forward that the US would assume leadership in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Russia has repeatedly cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet issued a statement on this recent declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow at this time holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked Starmer.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed verification of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term safety pledges and strong prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a key requirement made by Ukraine.

The negotiator said the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the talks.

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

He added that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a prospective truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the end of the war.

Recently, Zelensky said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has thus far ruled out ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.

This triggered a period of intensive diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the document.

The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an new framework – as well as additional documents describing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he added.