The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country if a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "set up defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and build secure structures for military hardware and military equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also put forward that the US would play the primary role in verifying a truce.

The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated Starmer.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister added: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."

The UK prime minister also stated that the UK would take part in any American-headed confirmation of a possible truce.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and strong reconstruction vows are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by Ukraine.

The negotiator said the coalition had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such assurances "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

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

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant advances" at the negotiations.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for negotiators.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any concession over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date rejected giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas.

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

This triggered a period of high-level diplomacy – with all sides trying to revise the proposal.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an new 20-point plan – as well as additional documents describing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.