UK and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace deal be made with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the allies would "set up military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct secure installations for arms and defense matériel" to discourage any future attack.

The partner countries also proposed that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest development.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow presently holds roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked the British leader.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The PM also stated that London would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and substantial economic promises are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a central requirement made by Ukraine.

He indicated the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the negotiations.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He noted that "robust" safety pledges for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant development" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the last 10% would "determine the outcome of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the center of key disagreements for negotiators.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, refusing any compromise over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far excluded giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This sparked a period of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents detailing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President said.