UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The UK and France have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and erect secure installations for weapons and equipment" to discourage any future attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the US would play the primary role in verifying a ceasefire.

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

Context and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked the British leader.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" took part in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The UK prime minister went on to say that London would be involved in any US-led verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a key condition made by Kyiv.

Witkoff indicated the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such pledges "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the talks.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "major headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Kyiv had been agreed in the event of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.

Recently, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, dismissing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

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

The earlier US-led multi-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This triggered a period of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the draft.

Recently, The Ukrainian government presented the US an new 20-point plan – as well as separate documents describing prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President said.