UK and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The London and Paris have signed a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine if a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has declared.

After negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified facilities for arms and defense matériel" to discourage any future invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Moscow has consistently stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not responded on this latest declaration.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces presently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would take part in any US-led confirmation of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and robust reconstruction vows are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major demand made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the discussions.

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

He said that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the end of the conflict.

Recently, Zelensky said a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the last 10% would "decide the outcome of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far excluded surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow currently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This led to weeks of intensive diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an revised proposal – as well as distinct documents describing prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.