Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have inked a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine if a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct fortified installations for arms and equipment" to deter any future attack.

The partner countries also put forward that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet commented on this latest announcement.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow currently holds approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that Britain would be involved in any US-led verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the coalition had "largely finished" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the talks.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable headway" at the negotiations.

He said that "comprehensive" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Earlier, Zelensky said a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any compromise over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has thus far ruled out ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia currently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This sparked weeks of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to amend the draft.

Recently, The Ukrainian government sent the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as additional documents detailing possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky added.