UK and France Will Dispatch Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The British and French governments have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of military forces in the nation should a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has declared.

After negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the two nations would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct fortified structures for arms and defense matériel" to prevent any potential invasion.

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

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

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," commented the British leader.

National leaders and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader also stated that London would be involved in any American-headed verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such pledges "so that the people of Ukraine 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 discussions.

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

He said that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the cessation of the war.

Earlier, he said a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "determine the outcome of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the forefront of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This led to weeks of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government presented the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents detailing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.