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

The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of military forces in the nation should a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct protected facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any potential incursion.

The allied nations also proposed that the US would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not commented on this latest development.

Context and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented Starmer.

National leaders and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a joint press conference, he added: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that Britain would take part in any Washington-directed monitoring of a potential truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term safety pledges and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central condition made by Kyiv.

Witkoff noted the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such pledges "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the discussions.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "major headway" at the talks.

He said that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a prospective truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the cessation of the war.

Last week, he indicated a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Kyiv's military must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any compromise over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

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

The original US-led comprehensive framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This triggered a period of intensive discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the document.

Recently, Kyiv presented the US an new framework – as well as additional documents detailing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky added.