The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct fortified structures for weapons and military equipment" to prevent any potential invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce.

The Kremlin has consistently cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this latest development.

Context and Ongoing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time occupies about 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a shared media briefing, he added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The British leader went on to say that London would take part in any Washington-directed monitoring of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and substantial reconstruction vows are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff noted the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American 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 talks.

He added that "strong" safety pledges for Ukraine 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 Paris, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the war.

Last week, the Ukrainian leader said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the outcome of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far excluded surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This led to a period of focused discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the document.

The previous month, Kyiv presented the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents outlining possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, he stated.