UK and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine if a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the two nations would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and erect secure structures for weapons and military equipment" to prevent any future incursion.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would assume leadership in verifying a truce.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not responded on this new announcement.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia at this time controls approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The PM added that Britain would take part in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and substantial reconstruction vows are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major condition made by Ukraine.

The negotiator noted the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

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

He noted that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a potential ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the last 10% would "decide the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has often said that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has thus far rejected ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of focused negotiations – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.

Last month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents describing possible security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, the President said.