The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The London and Paris have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "create operational bases across Ukraine and construct fortified structures for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent incursion.

The coalition members also suggested that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not responded on this new declaration.

Context and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow currently holds about 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.

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

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's military for the future."

The British leader added that Britain would take part in any American-headed monitoring of a prospective ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "durable safety pledges and robust reconstruction vows are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major requirement made by Ukraine.

He said the allies had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the discussions.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "significant headway" at the talks.

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been reached in the case of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major advance" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• The Russian President has often said that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has thus far ruled out giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This sparked a period of intensive discussions – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an new framework – as well as separate documents describing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.