UK and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have inked a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of troops in the nation in the event a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has declared.

After talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine and construct fortified structures for arms and defense matériel" to deter any potential attack.

The partner countries also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in verifying a halt in hostilities.

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

Context and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia presently holds about 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," commented Starmer.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister noted: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The UK prime minister added that the UK would be involved in any US-led monitoring of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such pledges "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the talks.

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

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been reached in the instance of a possible truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major step forward" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.

Earlier, he said a settlement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This sparked a period of intensive diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the document.

The previous month, Kyiv presented the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents describing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.