UK and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of armed personnel in the nation should a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

After negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the allies would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and construct fortified facilities for military hardware and equipment" to discourage any future invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this latest development.

Context and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The PM also stated that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed verification of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting safety pledges and robust economic promises are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a key requirement made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations.

He said that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, he said a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow currently holds approximately 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 peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This led to weeks of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

Recently, Ukraine presented the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents describing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky stated.