UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the allies would "create operational bases across Ukraine and construct fortified installations for arms and defense matériel" to prevent any subsequent incursion.

The allied nations also put forward that the US would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has on multiple occasions warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet issued a statement on this new declaration.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to support Ukraine for the long-term," commented Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" took part in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The British leader also stated that London would be involved in any American-headed verification of a prospective truce.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "long-term defense assurances and substantial economic promises are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the coalition had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such pledges "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the talks.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the talks.

He said that "strong" security guarantees for Ukraine had been settled upon in the event of a potential truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the cessation of the war.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "decide the future of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has thus far excluded surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the proposal.

Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as additional documents outlining prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.