The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine should a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

After talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the allies would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and build fortified installations for arms and equipment" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently holds roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to support Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a combined announcement, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that the UK would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "lasting security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are essential 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 agreeing such pledges "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

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

He said that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Kyiv had been settled upon in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the conclusion of the war.

Recently, he indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any compromise over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has so far excluded surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This triggered weeks of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal.

Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents describing prospective defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky stated.