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

The UK and France have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine if a peace deal be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has stated.

After negotiations with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected installations for military hardware and defense matériel" to discourage any future invasion.

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

Russia has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet responded on this recent declaration.

Context and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved 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 British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that Britain would participate in any US-led monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a major requirement made by Kyiv.

The negotiator indicated the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such pledges "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the discussions.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "major headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the conflict.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the fate of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to amend the draft.

Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an updated framework – as well as distinct documents detailing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President added.