UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The London and Paris have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation should a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to talks with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and construct secure installations for military hardware and military equipment" to discourage any future invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a truce.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not commented on this new announcement.

Context and Continuing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia at this time occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The British leader added that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major requirement made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such pledges "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the discussions.

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "major progress" at the meeting.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major development" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the cessation of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for diplomats.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has thus far ruled out ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

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

This led to a period of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to amend the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as separate documents describing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.