Britain and France to Deploy Troops to the Country if a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The London and Paris have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine should a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following discussions with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct fortified facilities for weapons and equipment" to deter any potential attack.

The allied nations also put forward that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Russia has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this latest announcement.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time controls about 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The British leader added that Britain would take part in any US-led verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and robust economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Kyiv.

Witkoff noted the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such assurances "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the negotiations.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "significant advances" at the talks.

He noted that "robust" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the instance of a prospective truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major step forward" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they led to the end of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "90% ready". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the future of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has so far rejected ceding 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 occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

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

This triggered weeks of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, Ukraine submitted the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as separate documents detailing prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.