Britain and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have signed a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and build secure structures for weapons and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent incursion.

The coalition members also proposed that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a ceasefire.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this new development.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces presently occupies about 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the duration," stated Starmer.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister noted: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that Britain would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and robust economic promises are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator said the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the negotiations.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant headway" at the talks.

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the case of a possible truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the conclusion of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky said a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the future of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This sparked a period of focused diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to revise the proposal.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents describing possible defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he said.