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

The British and French governments have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine and build protected structures for weapons and defense matériel" to prevent any potential attack.

The partner countries also put forward that the US would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent declaration.

Context and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved 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 function on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would take part in any Washington-directed verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the discussions.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "significant advances" at the meeting.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the war.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has thus far ruled out ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the area of Donbas.

The initial 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 Moscow's favor.

This triggered weeks of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the proposal.

Recently, The Ukrainian government sent the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing potential defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President added.