Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Reached

The London and Paris have signed a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "create military hubs across Ukraine and erect secure installations for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any future attack.

The partner countries also put forward that the United States would assume leadership in monitoring a truce.

Russia has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet issued a statement on this latest declaration.

Context and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently holds approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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

National leaders and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, he added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that London would be involved in any American-headed verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and strong economic promises are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator noted the allies had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such pledges "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the talks.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant headway" at the negotiations.

He noted that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been agreed in the instance of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major step forward" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the last 10% would "decide the outcome of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This sparked a period of high-level diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

Recently, Ukraine presented the US an new 20-point plan – as well as separate documents detailing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky said.