Britain and France Will Dispatch Forces to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the two nations would "create military hubs across Ukraine and erect secure facilities for arms and defense matériel" to prevent any potential invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would take the lead in verifying a ceasefire.

Russia has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this new declaration.

The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow presently controls about 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The UK prime minister added that London would participate in any American-headed verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a major requirement made by Kyiv.

The negotiator said the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the talks.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "major progress" at the meeting.

He noted that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a potential ceasefire.

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

Last week, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the fate of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has to date excluded ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to a period of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

Last month, Ukraine submitted the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing potential defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky stated.