UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The London and Paris have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of armed personnel in the nation if a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has stated.

Following negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build secure installations for arms and military equipment" to deter any future invasion.

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

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not responded on this latest announcement.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The PM added that the UK would take part in any American-headed confirmation of a prospective truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "long-term safety pledges and robust prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a major demand made by Kyiv.

He said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the talks.

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

He added that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the instance of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant advance" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, he said a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the center of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas 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 Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This led to weeks of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an updated proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining possible defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.