UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The British and French governments have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of troops in Ukraine should a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has stated.

After negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "establish defense centers across Ukraine and construct secure structures for weapons and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent attack.

The partner countries also proposed that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has on multiple occasions cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this new declaration.

The Situation and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time holds about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a combined announcement, he noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister added that London would take part in any American-headed verification of a potential ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He noted the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the talks.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "comprehensive" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the instance of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the conflict.

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

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has thus far ruled out giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The two regions form the area of the Donbas.

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

This sparked a period of intensive negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.