Britain and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have inked a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of troops in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect fortified structures for arms and equipment" to deter any potential invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the US would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this latest announcement.

Background and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked the British leader.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a combined announcement, he noted: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader added that London would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a prospective truce.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by Ukraine.

The negotiator noted the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.

He added that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been reached in the instance of a prospective ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the cessation of the war.

Last week, Zelensky indicated a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the last 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has so far rejected surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of focused negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated framework – as well as distinct documents outlining potential defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.