UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Reached

The British and French governments have inked a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of troops in the nation if a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and build secure structures for weapons and defense matériel" to prevent any potential invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would take the lead in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not commented on this recent declaration.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."

The PM added that the UK would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a potential ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the talks.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "major advances" at the talks.

He said that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been reached in the case of a prospective truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant development" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the end of the war.

Last week, he indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Settling the outstanding 10% would "decide the fate of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This led to a period of intensive diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the draft.

Recently, Ukraine presented the US an revised proposal – as well as distinct documents describing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he said.