The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The UK and France have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine if a peace agreement be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "create military hubs across Ukraine and build fortified installations for weapons and equipment" to prevent any potential incursion.

The coalition members also suggested that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has on multiple occasions cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not responded on this new declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time controls approximately 20% of the country's land.

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

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, Starmer added: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The PM added that the UK would be involved in any US-led monitoring of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable security guarantees and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by Kyiv.

Witkoff said the allies had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

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

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

He said that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Ukraine had been settled upon in the case of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major step forward" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict.

Last week, he said a settlement was "largely prepared". Settling the last 10% would "decide the fate of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This sparked a period of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to amend the proposal.

Last month, Kyiv sent the US an new 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents describing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.