Britain and France to Deploy Forces to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine if a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has announced.

After negotiations with allied nations in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and erect fortified installations for arms and military equipment" to prevent any potential invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not responded on this recent development.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and top officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a combined announcement, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader added that the UK would participate in any US-led verification of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and robust reconstruction vows are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a major demand made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the negotiations.

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

He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Settling the last 10% would "shape the future of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has to date excluded giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of focused negotiations – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal.

Last month, Ukraine sent the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents detailing possible defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he stated.