The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine if a ceasefire be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to discussions with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct fortified structures for military hardware and military equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also proposed that the US would take the lead in verifying a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not issued a statement on this recent announcement.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia at this time holds roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, he added: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The PM added that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective truce.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and strong economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a central condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator indicated the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the discussions.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant progress" at the talks.

He added that "robust" safety pledges for Kyiv had been settled upon in the instance of a prospective truce.

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

Last week, Zelensky indicated a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the outcome of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

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

This triggered weeks of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents detailing prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he stated.