The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation in the event a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build secure installations for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also put forward that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a truce.

The Kremlin has repeatedly cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet responded on this recent announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, Starmer added: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed confirmation of a prospective truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable safety pledges and substantial economic promises are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a central condition made by Kyiv.

He said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the negotiations.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "significant headway" at the meeting.

He said that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been agreed in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant development" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the cessation of the conflict.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the center of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has thus far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This triggered weeks of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the document.

Recently, Ukraine presented the US an new 20-point plan – as well as additional documents describing potential security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.