The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine if a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has stated.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct secure facilities for weapons and military equipment" to deter any subsequent incursion.

The coalition members also put forward that the America would assume leadership in overseeing a truce.

Russia has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not commented on this new declaration.

The Situation and Ongoing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow at this time holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated the British leader.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The British leader added that the UK would take part in any American-headed verification of a possible truce.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable safety pledges and robust reconstruction vows are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by Kyiv.

He noted the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the discussions.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "significant advances" at the talks.

He added that "strong" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a possible truce.

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

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader suggested a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has thus far rejected giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

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

The original US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This triggered weeks of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents describing prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's recovery, he stated.