UK and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country if a Peace Deal is Agreed

The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and build secure structures for arms and military equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not commented on this recent announcement.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to support Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The British leader also stated that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable defense assurances and substantial economic promises are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a central condition made by Ukraine.

The negotiator noted the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the talks.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable headway" at the negotiations.

He noted that "strong" safety pledges for Kyiv had been settled upon in the event of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the end of the war.

Earlier, Zelensky suggested a peace agreement was "90% ready". Settling the last 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, dismissing any compromise over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has to date ruled out ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This triggered weeks of intensive diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents detailing possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's recovery, he added.