The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

After discussions with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine and erect protected structures for arms and military equipment" to deter any future invasion.

The coalition members also put forward that the US would take the lead in verifying a halt in hostilities.

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

Background and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, Starmer further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The PM added that London would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and robust reconstruction vows are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a key requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator indicated the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

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

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant progress" at the talks.

He said that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the event of a potential ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, Zelensky indicated a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the last 10% would "shape the outcome of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Moscow has often said that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This triggered a period of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal.

The previous month, Ukraine sent the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents outlining possible security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.