Britain and France to Deploy Military Personnel to the Country if a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have signed a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in the nation if a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

After discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "establish military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected structures for arms and equipment" to prevent any future invasion.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would take the lead in verifying a ceasefire.

Russia has consistently cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet commented on this latest declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, he noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that the UK would be involved in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by Kyiv.

He said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the talks.

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

He added that "robust" safety pledges for Ukraine had been reached in the event of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the fighting.

Recently, he said a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Settling the last 10% would "decide the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This sparked a period of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as separate documents detailing possible security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, he said.