The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to the Country if a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation should a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the two nations would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and build secure structures for arms and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would assume leadership in overseeing a truce.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not issued a statement on this new development.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently holds approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated Starmer.

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

Speaking at a combined announcement, he further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would take part in any American-headed monitoring of a possible ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and robust reconstruction vows are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on establishing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the discussions.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant headway" at the meeting.

He added that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Ukraine had been agreed in the instance of a potential truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the end of the conflict.

Last week, Zelensky said a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any compromise over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has thus far rejected surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

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

This led to a period of focused discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as separate documents describing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.