UK and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The London and Paris have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of troops in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following discussions with allied nations in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "establish defense centers across Ukraine and construct fortified structures for military hardware and defense matériel" to prevent any subsequent attack.

The coalition members also put forward that the US would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this new announcement.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow currently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would participate in any American-headed verification of a possible ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by Ukraine.

He said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on establishing such pledges "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the discussions.

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

He noted that "comprehensive" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, he said a settlement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "shape the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out surrendering any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an new 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents describing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, the President stated.