Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Agreed
The British and French governments have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine should a peace deal be made with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.
Subsequent to talks with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the allies would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct secure structures for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any future invasion.
The allied nations also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a ceasefire.
The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest development.
Context and Ongoing Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia at this time controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
"This is a vital part of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented the British leader.
National leaders and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the Paris negotiations.
Speaking at a combined announcement, he noted: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."
The PM also stated that the UK would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.
Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions
Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.
Witkoff said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."
The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the negotiations.
Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.
He noted that "robust" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the case of a prospective ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the conflict.
Recently, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".
Unresolved Issues
- Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
- Putin has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
- Zelensky has to date ruled out surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.
Russia presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas.
The earlier US-led comprehensive proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.
This led to a period of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.
The previous month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents outlining potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President said.
