The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine should a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with allied nations in Paris, he said that the two nations would "set up military hubs across Ukraine and construct secure installations for arms and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent incursion.

The allied nations also suggested that the America would assume leadership in overseeing a ceasefire.

Moscow has on multiple occasions warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not commented on this new declaration.

Context and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented Starmer.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a joint press conference, he further said: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader went on to say that London would participate in any American-headed monitoring of a possible ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting safety pledges and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator indicated the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such assurances "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

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

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

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Last week, the Ukrainian leader said a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Settling the last 10% would "shape the fate of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has often said that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has thus far ruled out surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This led to weeks of intensive discussions – with the involved parties trying to adjust the draft.

Recently, Kyiv sent the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as additional documents outlining potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.