Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country if a Peace Deal is Reached

The UK and France have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of troops in the nation in the event a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has declared.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the two nations would "set up defense centers across Ukraine and erect fortified structures for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any future attack.

The allied nations also put forward that the US would assume leadership in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet commented on this recent development.

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to support Ukraine for the long-term," stated the British leader.

National leaders and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, he noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that Britain would take part in any US-led confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "lasting safety pledges and robust economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a key condition made by Kyiv.

He said the allies had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

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

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "major headway" at the talks.

He said that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the conflict.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has often said that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, dismissing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far excluded giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal.

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an new proposal – as well as separate documents outlining possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.