UK and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of troops in the nation should a ceasefire be made with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has declared.

After discussions with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the allies would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and erect fortified facilities for military hardware and military equipment" to deter any potential incursion.

The allied nations also put forward that the America would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Russia has on multiple occasions warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not commented on this recent announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces at this time controls about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

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

He stated at a joint press conference, he added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would participate in any US-led verification of a potential truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator noted the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

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

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the instance of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the end of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has thus far ruled out ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the proposal.

The previous month, Ukraine presented the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents outlining possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.