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

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation if a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

After talks with allied nations in Paris, he said that the allies would "establish operational bases across Ukraine and build secure facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to discourage any future incursion.

The coalition members also suggested that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

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

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently controls about 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" took part in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a joint press conference, he further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The PM also stated that London would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a potential ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and substantial economic promises are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator noted the partner nations 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."

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

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant headway" at the talks.

He said that "strong" security guarantees for Ukraine had been settled upon in the case of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge step forward" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.

Last week, he indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Settling the last 10% would "decide the fate of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date ruled out giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This triggered weeks of intensive discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the document.

The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as separate documents describing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he stated.