UK and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The London and Paris have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in the nation if a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine and build secure structures for arms and equipment" to deter any potential incursion.

The allied nations also proposed that the US would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this new development.

Context and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to support Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader also stated that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting safety pledges and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a major demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the coalition had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant advances" at the meeting.

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the instance of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the conflict.

Last week, he indicated a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date rejected surrendering any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

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

Recently, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky added.