UK and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine if a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "create operational bases throughout Ukraine and erect fortified facilities for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any potential invasion.

The allied nations also proposed that the America would assume leadership in verifying a ceasefire.

Russia has consistently stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet responded on this new development.

Context and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow at this time occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

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

He stated at a combined announcement, he noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the future."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would participate in any US-led confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a central condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator noted the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on establishing such pledges "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He added that "strong" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the case of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Last week, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the future of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far ruled out ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This triggered a period of high-level negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

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