The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Troops to the Country if a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be struck with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the allies would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and construct fortified structures for weapons and defense matériel" to discourage any future invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the United States would assume leadership in verifying a truce.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

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

Speaking at a joint press conference, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that London would participate in any US-led confirmation of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the talks.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the talks.

He said that "robust" security guarantees for Kyiv had been agreed in the instance of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This triggered weeks of high-level discussions – with the involved parties trying to revise the proposal.

Recently, Kyiv presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents describing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, the President said.