UK and France to Deploy Military Personnel to the Country if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The London and Paris have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

After talks with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and build protected installations for military hardware and military equipment" to discourage any potential invasion.

The coalition members also put forward that the United States would assume leadership in verifying a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has consistently stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would take part in any US-led verification of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a central requirement made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

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

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "significant headway" at the meeting.

He added that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the war.

Recently, he indicated a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of key disagreements for negotiators.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive framework that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This triggered a period of intensive diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President added.