Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation if a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "create defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and erect secure installations for military hardware and defense matériel" to discourage any potential invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a ceasefire.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not issued a statement on this recent announcement.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the British leader.

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

He stated at a joint press conference, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would participate in any US-led verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "durable security guarantees and strong economic promises are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a key requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator noted the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the talks.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant headway" at the talks.

He said that "robust" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the event of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the end of the fighting.

Recently, he indicated a peace agreement was "90% ready". Settling the remaining 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the center of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive proposal that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, Ukraine submitted the US an new proposal – as well as separate documents detailing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, he stated.