The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Agreed

The British and French governments have inked a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of armed personnel in the nation if a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "establish operational bases across Ukraine and build secure structures for arms and military equipment" to prevent any potential invasion.

The coalition members also put forward that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce.

The Kremlin has consistently stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this new declaration.

Background and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, Starmer added: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The British leader added that London would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by Kyiv.

He indicated the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the talks.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable advances" at the talks.

He said that "strong" safety pledges for Ukraine had been settled upon in the event of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the end of the fighting.

Last week, he indicated a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the center of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, refusing any concession over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has thus far excluded giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This triggered a period of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to amend the document.

Recently, Kyiv sent the US an updated proposal – as well as additional documents describing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he added.