Britain and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Agreed

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of armed personnel in the nation in the event a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to discussions with allied nations in Paris, he said that the two nations would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and erect secure facilities for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any potential attack.

The allied nations also suggested that the America would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not commented on this latest development.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time holds about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would take part in any US-led verification of a potential truce.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and strong economic promises are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator noted the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such guarantees "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant advances" at the meeting.

He noted that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been settled upon in the instance of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant development" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the cessation of the war.

Last week, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Settling the last 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has to date excluded giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This triggered weeks of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents describing possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, he said.