The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "establish defense centers across Ukraine and construct protected facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to discourage any future invasion.

The allied nations also proposed that the America would take the lead in verifying a truce.

Russia has repeatedly stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not commented on this latest announcement.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time holds roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a combined announcement, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The PM added that London would be involved in any American-headed monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term safety pledges and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He noted the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

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

He added that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a potential truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major advance" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, Zelensky indicated a peace agreement was "90% ready". Settling the remaining 10% would "determine the future of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has thus far excluded surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to a period of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the proposal.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an updated framework – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, he said.