Britain and France to Deploy Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of armed personnel in the nation if a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "create defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct protected facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any future attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the America would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Russia has on multiple occasions cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this new development.

Background and Continuing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow at this time occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented Starmer.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The PM went on to say that Britain would be involved in any US-led verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term defense assurances and strong economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major demand made by Ukraine.

He indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such assurances "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the discussions.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant progress" at the meeting.

He added that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the event of a prospective truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge advance" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "decide the outcome of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has often said that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date ruled out ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

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

The initial US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This sparked a period of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the document.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as additional documents describing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.