The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country should a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine if a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the allies would "establish operational bases throughout Ukraine and build protected facilities for military hardware and equipment" to deter any potential invasion.

The coalition members also put forward that the US would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest announcement.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The UK prime minister also stated that London would participate in any US-led monitoring of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "long-term defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a major requirement made by Kyiv.

Witkoff noted the allies had "largely finished" their work on establishing such assurances "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations.

He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Ukraine had been reached in the instance of a prospective truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Earlier, he said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Settling the remaining 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far excluded giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This sparked weeks of focused diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

Recently, Kyiv presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as separate documents describing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President said.