The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to negotiations with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct fortified facilities for arms and equipment" to discourage any future incursion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet issued a statement on this latest development.

Context and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would take part in any US-led monitoring of a potential truce.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a major requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant headway" at the meeting.

He noted that "strong" safety pledges for Kyiv had been settled upon in the event of a potential truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the cessation of the conflict.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a peace deal was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for diplomats.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far excluded giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This sparked a period of high-level negotiations – with all sides trying to amend the proposal.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, the President added.