The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country if a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the allies would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and construct protected installations for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any potential incursion.

The partner countries also put forward that the United States would play the primary role in monitoring a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this recent announcement.

Context and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, Starmer added: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would be involved in any US-led verification of a possible ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a key demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator indicated the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He added that "robust" safety pledges for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the future of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far excluded giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This led to weeks of intensive diplomacy – with all sides trying to amend the draft.

Recently, Ukraine sent the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as separate documents outlining possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky stated.