UK and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has announced.

After negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the two nations would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect protected installations for arms and military equipment" to deter any potential invasion.

The allied nations also put forward that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this recent announcement.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The British leader went on to say that London would participate in any US-led verification of a prospective truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such guarantees "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "major headway" at the negotiations.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, he suggested a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the last 10% would "shape the outcome of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, dismissing any concession over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This sparked a period of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.

Last month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as additional documents outlining possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President stated.