UK and France to Deploy Forces to the Country in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in Ukraine should a peace agreement be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to talks with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and build protected installations for arms and defense matériel" to discourage any future invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has consistently warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this recent declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," stated Starmer.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would be involved in any American-headed verification of a potential ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable safety pledges and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by Ukraine.

He said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such assurances "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant advances" at the talks.

He added that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been agreed in the instance of a potential truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the end of the fighting.

Earlier, he suggested a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "shape the future of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has to date excluded giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.

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

Last month, Kyiv sent the US an revised proposal – as well as distinct documents describing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky said.