UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The British and French governments have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in Ukraine should a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with allied nations in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and construct fortified installations for arms and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would take the lead in verifying a truce.

Moscow has consistently stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this recent declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently holds roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," commented the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would be involved in any US-led monitoring of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "durable security guarantees and strong economic promises are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the talks.

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

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

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

Earlier, Zelensky said a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the fate of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has so far ruled out giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This triggered weeks of intensive diplomacy – with all sides trying to amend the proposal.

Last month, The Ukrainian government presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents describing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President added.