Britain and France to Deploy Forces to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The British and French governments have signed a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

After talks with allied nations in Paris, he indicated that the UK and France would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect fortified installations for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any potential incursion.

The partner countries also proposed that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a truce.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this latest declaration.

Context and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently holds roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked Starmer.

National leaders and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The PM added that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and substantial economic promises are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the coalition had "largely finished" their work on establishing such assurances "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the discussions.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant headway" at the meeting.

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for Ukraine had been settled upon in the instance of a potential truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Last week, the Ukrainian leader suggested a settlement was "90% ready". Settling the last 10% would "decide the fate of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far excluded giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This triggered a period of high-level discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal.

Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as additional documents describing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky said.