Britain and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of troops in the nation if a peace agreement be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has announced.

After negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and erect fortified facilities for weapons and equipment" to deter any subsequent attack.

The partner countries also put forward that the US would play the primary role in monitoring a ceasefire.

Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia presently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed monitoring of a potential ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a key requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator noted the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such assurances "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the instance of a prospective ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant development" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the cessation of the war.

Earlier, he indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "decide the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The areas form the industrial region of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to revise the proposal.

The previous month, Ukraine submitted the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as additional documents detailing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he added.