UK and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Finalized

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in the nation in the event a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and erect protected structures for arms and equipment" to discourage any subsequent attack.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that Britain would be involved in any American-headed confirmation of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term safety pledges and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a major requirement made by Kyiv.

Witkoff noted the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the discussions.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "major advances" at the meeting.

He said that "comprehensive" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a potential ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant development" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the war.

Last week, he indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the future of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has so far rejected giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This sparked a period of focused discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv presented the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents describing potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.