Britain and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine should a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has stated.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and construct protected facilities for arms and military equipment" to discourage any potential incursion.

The partner countries also suggested that the United States would take the lead in verifying a truce.

The Kremlin has consistently cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not responded on this new announcement.

Context and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the duration," commented Starmer.

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

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, he added: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The PM also stated that the UK would be involved in any American-headed confirmation of a prospective truce.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable security guarantees and strong reconstruction vows are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff said the coalition had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such guarantees "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the talks.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "major headway" at the meeting.

He said that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant development" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.

Last week, Zelensky said a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "determine the fate of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far ruled out giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of intensive negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents describing potential defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.