UK and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Finalized

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in the nation in the event a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct secure structures for arms and equipment" to deter any subsequent incursion.

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

Russia has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

The Situation and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented Starmer.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The PM went on to say that the UK would take part in any US-led verification of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable defense assurances and robust economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a major condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He added that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This led to a period of intensive negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as additional documents outlining possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.