Britain and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of troops in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "establish operational bases throughout Ukraine and construct protected facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to prevent any future incursion.

The allied nations also suggested that the US would play the primary role in verifying a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not responded on this recent declaration.

The Situation and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently holds about 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated the British leader.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, Starmer added: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The British leader added that the UK would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "lasting safety pledges and strong reconstruction vows are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "major headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" security guarantees for Kyiv had been agreed in the instance of a prospective ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge step forward" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, he said a settlement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "determine the future of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

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

Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an new framework – as well as distinct documents detailing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President added.