Britain and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The UK and France have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of troops in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "create military hubs across Ukraine and construct fortified structures for military hardware and equipment" to deter any future attack.

The allied nations also put forward that the America would play the primary role in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this recent development.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, he added: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader also stated that London would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "durable security guarantees and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a key requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

He indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

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

He said that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Putin has often said that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, refusing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

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

This led to weeks of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents outlining prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President stated.