UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Finalized

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has declared.

After discussions with allied nations in Paris, he said that the allies would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and erect protected installations for weapons and military equipment" to prevent any potential invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the US would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Russia has on multiple occasions warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest announcement.

Background and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently controls approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," stated the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and top officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that London would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a prospective truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and robust economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a key requirement made by Ukraine.

He noted the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

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

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

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the end of the fighting.

Earlier, he suggested a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has so far excluded ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to amend the document.

Last month, The Ukrainian government presented the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as separate documents outlining prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, he added.