UK and France to Deploy Forces to the Country should a Peace Deal is Reached

The London and Paris have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the allies would "establish operational bases throughout Ukraine and erect secure facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent attack.

The allied nations also proposed that the US would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not commented on this new declaration.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to support Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The UK prime minister added that London would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable safety pledges and robust economic promises are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the negotiations.

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

He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the event of a potential truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Earlier, he suggested a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has to date rejected surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This led to a period of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the proposal.

The previous month, Ukraine presented the US an updated proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing potential defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky added.