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

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the UK and France would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and build protected installations for arms and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would take the lead in verifying a truce.

Moscow has on multiple occasions cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this recent declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces at this time occupies about 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented the British leader.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a joint press conference, he added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader added that the UK would be involved in any US-led verification of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting safety pledges and robust economic promises are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central condition made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

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

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable advances" at the meeting.

He noted that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the event of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant advance" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, he indicated a peace agreement was "90% ready". Settling the remaining 10% would "decide the outcome of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date ruled out giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently holds approximately 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 multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of intensive discussions – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

Last month, Ukraine submitted the US an updated framework – as well as separate documents outlining possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President said.