Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "create operational bases throughout Ukraine and construct protected facilities for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any potential attack.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent announcement.

Context and Continuing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow presently controls about 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," remarked the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer added: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that London would take part in any American-headed monitoring of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term safety pledges and strong prosperity commitments are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the discussions.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable advances" at the talks.

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the end of the fighting.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "90% ready". Settling the last 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has often said that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date rejected ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to amend the draft.

Last month, Kyiv sent the US an revised proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, he stated.