Britain and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal 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 Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "set up defense centers across Ukraine and construct secure structures for arms and defense matériel" to deter any future invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet responded on this recent declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently holds approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a combined announcement, 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 added that the UK would take part in any US-led verification of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "durable safety pledges and strong reconstruction vows are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the talks.

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the instance of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky suggested a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Settling the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This led to a period of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining possible security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.