Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Agreed

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of troops in the nation in the event a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "create defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and build secure installations for arms and equipment" to deter any subsequent incursion.

The allied nations also proposed that the America would play the primary role in monitoring a ceasefire.

Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not commented on this recent development.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces presently holds about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked the British leader.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that the UK would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a prospective truce.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a major requirement made by Ukraine.

He said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "major progress" at the talks.

He added that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the event of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the cessation of the war.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, dismissing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has thus far rejected surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive framework that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the document.

The previous month, Ukraine presented the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents detailing prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he said.