Britain and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The UK and France have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation in the event a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "establish defense centers throughout Ukraine and build fortified structures for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the United States would play the primary role in verifying a truce.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this recent declaration.

The Situation and Ongoing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The UK prime minister added that the UK would be involved in any American-headed monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and robust economic promises are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by Ukraine.

Witkoff noted the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the negotiations.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "major headway" at the negotiations.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has so far ruled out surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This sparked weeks of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to amend the document.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents outlining potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.