UK and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation if a peace agreement be made with Moscow, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "set up military hubs throughout Ukraine and build protected installations for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any future incursion.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet commented on this recent development.

Background and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented the British leader.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The PM added that Britain would participate in any American-headed monitoring of a possible ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting security guarantees and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major demand made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "major advances" at the meeting.

He said that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant development" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Last week, he suggested a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "shape the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Putin has often said that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This led to weeks of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to adjust the document.

Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an new proposal – as well as separate documents describing possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky stated.