Britain and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Agreed

The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of armed personnel in the nation should a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "create defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected facilities for military hardware and defense matériel" to discourage any future attack.

The coalition members also put forward that the United States would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet commented on this latest declaration.

Context and Ongoing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces presently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" participated in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a joint press conference, he noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The UK prime minister went on to say that the UK would be involved in any American-headed monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and substantial reconstruction vows are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a central requirement made by Kyiv.

The negotiator noted the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He noted that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the instance of a possible truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant development" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

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

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This sparked a period of intensive negotiations – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as separate documents describing prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.