The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine should a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated.

After negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the two nations would "create operational bases across Ukraine and construct fortified installations for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any potential attack.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would take the lead in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not commented on this latest announcement.

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

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

Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The UK prime minister added that London would be involved in any US-led monitoring of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a key demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

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

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant step forward" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the document.

Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an revised proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing prospective security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky stated.