The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Finalized

The London and Paris have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "create military hubs across Ukraine and erect fortified installations for arms and equipment" to deter any potential incursion.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not commented on this latest development.

Context and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a joint press conference, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would participate in any Washington-directed verification of a possible truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term safety pledges and robust economic promises are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a central requirement made by Ukraine.

The negotiator indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such pledges "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the talks.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable advances" at the talks.

He said that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a prospective ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the conclusion of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky indicated a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "decide the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has to date ruled out giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This sparked weeks of intensive diplomacy – with all sides trying to amend the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an new proposal – as well as separate documents describing possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President said.