Britain and France Will Dispatch Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine if a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and erect fortified structures for military hardware and defense matériel" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also put forward that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent declaration.

Context and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to support Ukraine for the duration," commented the British leader.

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

He stated at a combined announcement, he noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that the UK would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and strong economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a key demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the talks.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "significant headway" at the talks.

He said that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the event of a potential ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge development" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.

Last week, he suggested a peace agreement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

The earlier 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 strongly biased in Russia's favor.

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

Recently, Kyiv presented the US an revised proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he added.