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

The British and French governments have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine if a ceasefire be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the UK and France would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and erect fortified installations for weapons and equipment" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the America would play the primary role in verifying a ceasefire.

Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet responded on this recent development.

Context and Continuing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to support Ukraine for the duration," stated Starmer.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The PM also stated that Britain would take part in any US-led confirmation of a prospective truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term safety pledges and substantial economic promises are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by Ukraine.

The negotiator noted the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

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

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.

He noted that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant development" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the conflict.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has so far ruled out surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This led to a period of intensive discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents describing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.