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

The UK and France have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of armed personnel in the nation in the event a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

After negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and build protected facilities for military hardware and defense matériel" to discourage any potential incursion.

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

Russia has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not commented on this recent development.

Context and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia presently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a combined announcement, Starmer added: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The PM added that London would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible truce.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term defense assurances and strong reconstruction vows are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by Ukraine.

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

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the talks.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "major advances" at the negotiations.

He said that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a possible ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Settling the last 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date excluded ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of intensive diplomacy – with all sides trying to amend the document.

Recently, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents outlining possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he added.