Britain and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of military forces in the nation in the event a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "establish operational bases throughout Ukraine and build fortified facilities for arms and military equipment" to prevent any potential attack.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not commented on this new development.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia currently controls roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a combined announcement, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the future."

The UK prime minister also stated that the UK would participate in any American-headed monitoring of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and robust economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key condition made by the Ukrainian government.

He noted the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the talks.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "major headway" at the negotiations.

He said that "robust" safety pledges for Ukraine had been reached in the event of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant step forward" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict.

Earlier, he indicated a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Settling the outstanding 10% would "shape the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has often said that Kyiv's military must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has to date excluded ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This led to a period of focused diplomacy – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an revised framework – as well as separate documents detailing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, he said.