The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Reached

The British and French governments have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of troops in Ukraine if a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the allies would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct secure installations for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any potential attack.

The coalition members also put forward that the America would assume leadership in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

The Situation and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow at this time controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, he added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader added that London would take part in any US-led verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "long-term safety pledges and substantial economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "major headway" at the talks.

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Ukraine had been agreed in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Earlier, he said a peace agreement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• Moscow has often said that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date ruled out ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of high-level negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the document.

Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.