The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine if a peace deal be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to discussions with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the UK and France would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and erect fortified facilities for weapons and equipment" to prevent any future invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the US would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this new announcement.

Background and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently controls roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to support Ukraine for the duration," commented the British leader.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, Starmer added: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The PM also stated that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and robust reconstruction vows are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator noted the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "significant progress" at the talks.

He said that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Ukraine had been agreed in the instance of a potential truce.

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

Recently, he said a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

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

This triggered weeks of intensive discussions – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an revised proposal – as well as additional documents outlining prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.