The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Troops to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and build secure structures for arms and military equipment" to deter any subsequent incursion.

The coalition members also put forward that the America would take the lead in verifying a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not responded on this latest announcement.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently controls about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the duration," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister noted: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The PM went on to say that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "durable defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a central requirement made by Kyiv.

Witkoff indicated the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the negotiations.

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

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the case of a possible ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major development" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, he said a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This led to a period of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to amend the document.

Last month, Kyiv sent the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as separate documents outlining potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.