Britain and France to Deploy Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation should a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "set up defense centers across Ukraine and erect fortified structures for weapons and equipment" to discourage any potential invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions warned 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.

The Situation and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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

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

He stated at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would participate in any American-headed monitoring of a prospective truce.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such pledges "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

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

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

He noted that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a prospective truce.

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

Last week, he indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, dismissing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has so far rejected surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of intensive diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

The previous month, Ukraine presented the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents describing prospective defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky added.