UK and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be made with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "create operational bases throughout Ukraine and build fortified facilities for arms and military equipment" to discourage any future attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Russia has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not issued a statement on this new development.

The Situation and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a joint press conference, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the future."

The UK prime minister added that the UK would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting safety pledges and substantial prosperity commitments are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a key requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

He indicated the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such guarantees "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the discussions.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "significant headway" at the meeting.

He added that "comprehensive" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the instance of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant development" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the cessation of the conflict.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a peace agreement was "90% ready". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the future of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date rejected surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive proposal that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of focused discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal.

The previous month, Ukraine submitted the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as separate documents outlining possible defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.