UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country if a Peace Deal is Reached

The British and French governments have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the allies would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and build protected installations for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the America would assume leadership in overseeing a truce.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet issued a statement on this recent announcement.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow at this time occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," remarked Starmer.

National leaders and top officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, he added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable security guarantees and substantial prosperity commitments are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major requirement made by Kyiv.

The negotiator indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant advances" at the meeting.

He added that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been agreed in the instance of a prospective truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has thus far excluded giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The areas form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This led to a period of intensive negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the document.

Last month, Ukraine submitted the US an new framework – as well as separate documents describing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky stated.