UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Reached

The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in the nation in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with allied nations in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and construct fortified installations for military hardware and equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would take the lead in verifying a halt in hostilities.

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

Background and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow at this time occupies about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

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

Top officials and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that the UK would participate in any US-led confirmation of a possible truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "lasting security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a central requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

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

He noted that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the case of a prospective truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the last 10% would "decide the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This triggered weeks of intensive negotiations – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.

Last month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as additional documents outlining possible defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.