Britain and France to Deploy Forces to the Country if a Peace Agreement is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be made with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he said that the two nations would "establish military hubs across Ukraine and build secure facilities for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any future attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would play the primary role in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not responded on this new declaration.

Context and Continuing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently holds about 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the British leader.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, he added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."

The British leader also stated that the UK would be involved in any American-headed monitoring of a potential truce.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting safety pledges and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a major condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the talks.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "strong" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a potential truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, he suggested a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned 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 end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This led to a period of intensive diplomacy – with all sides trying to amend the document.

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents outlining possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President said.