UK and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of troops in the nation in the event a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the allies would "set up defense centers across Ukraine and construct secure facilities for military hardware and defense matériel" to prevent any future invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the US would play the primary role in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has consistently stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this latest development.

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces currently holds roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

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

Speaking at a joint press conference, he further said: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister went on to say that London would take part in any US-led monitoring of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a key condition made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "major progress" at the talks.

He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Ukraine had been settled upon in the event of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, he suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the fate of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far ruled out giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This led to a period of focused discussions – with all sides trying to revise the draft.

Recently, The Ukrainian government presented the US an revised proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky added.