Britain and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine should a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following discussions with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the allies would "set up defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and erect secure structures for weapons and military equipment" to prevent any potential incursion.

The partner countries also proposed that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet responded on this latest announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," commented Starmer.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a combined announcement, Starmer added: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The British leader added that the UK would take part in any US-led monitoring of a prospective ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and robust economic promises are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the negotiations.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "major progress" at the meeting.

He noted that "comprehensive" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the event of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the war.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• The Russian President has often said that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has so far excluded surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of the Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This led to a period of focused negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the draft.

The previous month, Ukraine sent the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents outlining potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky added.