Britain and France Will Dispatch Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the allies would "create defense centers across Ukraine and erect fortified installations for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any potential incursion.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has repeatedly cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this latest declaration.

Context and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked Starmer.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The PM also stated that London would take part in any American-headed confirmation of a possible truce.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term safety pledges and substantial prosperity commitments are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

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

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "major headway" at the meeting.

He said that "strong" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major development" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the end of the conflict.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any compromise over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far ruled out ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of high-level diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to revise the document.

Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as separate documents describing prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.