UK and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine if a ceasefire be made with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the allies would "establish military hubs across Ukraine and erect protected structures for military hardware and military equipment" to deter any subsequent incursion.

The coalition members also suggested that the America would assume leadership in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Russia has consistently stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this new development.

Context and Ongoing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently occupies about 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions.

He stated at a joint press conference, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "lasting safety pledges and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by Kyiv.

He noted the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the negotiations.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "significant headway" at the talks.

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the case of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major development" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has often said that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has thus far excluded ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This sparked a period of focused discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the document.

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he stated.