UK and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine should a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the two nations would "set up military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect protected facilities for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any potential attack.

The partner countries also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in verifying a truce.

The Kremlin has repeatedly cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow at this time holds about 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would be involved in any US-led verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "long-term defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major demand made by Ukraine.

He said the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

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

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "major headway" at the talks.

He said that "strong" security guarantees for Ukraine had been agreed in the instance of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Recently, he said a settlement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the forefront of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, dismissing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.

Recently, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an revised framework – as well as separate documents detailing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President said.