The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of troops in the nation in the event a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "set up defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and erect protected facilities for weapons and equipment" to discourage any future incursion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would play the primary role in overseeing a truce.

Moscow has consistently stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent declaration.

Context and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces presently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister also stated that the UK would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and substantial reconstruction vows are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a major condition made by Kyiv.

Witkoff said the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the talks.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "major progress" at the talks.

He added that "robust" defense assurances for Ukraine had been reached in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the cessation of the conflict.

Recently, he indicated a settlement was "largely prepared". Settling the last 10% would "shape the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far ruled out surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

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

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.

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

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an revised framework – as well as separate documents detailing potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky added.