UK and France to Deploy Forces to the Country should a Peace Deal is Reached
The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in the nation in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.
Following discussions with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he said that the two nations would "establish defense centers across Ukraine and construct protected installations for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any future invasion.
The allied nations also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a halt in hostilities.
Russia has on multiple occasions warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not commented on this latest declaration.
Context and Ongoing Hostilities
The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently occupies about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.
"This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.
Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the recent discussions.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."
The UK prime minister added that Britain would be involved in any US-led monitoring of a possible cessation of hostilities.
Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions
Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term safety pledges and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.
Witkoff indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."
Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the discussions.
Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "major advances" at the meeting.
He added that "robust" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the case of a potential ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the cessation of the conflict.
Recently, he indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".
Remaining Challenges
- Territory and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
- Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to end the war.
- The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.
Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of the Donbas.
The earlier US-led 28-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.
This triggered a period of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.
The previous month, Ukraine submitted the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents describing prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he stated.
