The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The UK and France have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine if a peace agreement be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the allies would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected facilities for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would play the primary role in verifying a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not issued a statement on this new announcement.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated Starmer.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister further said: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The British leader went on to say that London would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a possible truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable safety pledges and robust economic promises are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a key condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the discussions.

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

He added that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge advance" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.

Earlier, he said a peace agreement was "90% ready". Finalizing the last 10% would "decide the fate of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has so far excluded ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This led to a period of intensive diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, Ukraine submitted the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he added.