The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Reached

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with allied nations in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct protected installations for arms and defense matériel" to prevent any potential invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the US would take the lead in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this new declaration.

Background and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," stated the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, he noted: "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 regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The British leader went on to say that London would take part in any Washington-directed monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a key demand made by Ukraine.

He indicated the coalition had "largely finished" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the discussions.

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

He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant step forward" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the end of the war.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the future of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far ruled out ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This led to a period of focused discussions – with the involved parties trying to revise the document.

Recently, The Ukrainian government presented the US an new proposal – as well as separate documents detailing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky said.