Britain and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country if a Peace Deal is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in the nation should a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

After talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and construct protected installations for weapons and equipment" to discourage any future attack.

The allied nations also proposed that the America would play the primary role in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has on multiple occasions cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this recent announcement.

Context and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow presently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister added: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The PM added that the UK would take part in any US-led monitoring of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

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

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He added that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a possible truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the end of the fighting.

Last week, he said a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Settling the outstanding 10% would "shape the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far excluded surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This led to a period of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to amend the draft.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, he stated.