Britain and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country if a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with allied nations in Paris, he said that the two nations would "establish military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and erect protected structures for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any future invasion.

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

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow at this time controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, he added: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The PM went on to say that London would take part in any US-led verification of a potential ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff noted the coalition had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant advances" at the talks.

He said that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a possible truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the end of the war.

Last week, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the future of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has so far ruled out giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This led to a period of focused negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the proposal.

Last month, Kyiv presented the US an updated proposal – as well as additional documents detailing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.