The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have signed a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of armed personnel in the nation should a peace agreement be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the allies would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and erect protected structures for military hardware and military equipment" to discourage any subsequent incursion.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a truce.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this recent declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time holds roughly 20% of the country's land.

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

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that the UK would take part in any US-led verification of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a key requirement made by Ukraine.

He said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such assurances "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

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

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant advances" at the meeting.

He added that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the instance of a potential truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the conclusion of the war.

Last week, he said a settlement was "largely prepared". 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 heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has so far rejected surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This led to a period of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv presented the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents outlining possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he stated.