UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in the nation should a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has stated.

After talks with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected facilities for arms and equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not commented on this latest development.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia at this time occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented the British leader.

National leaders and top officials from the "Partner Group" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, Starmer further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that London would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a major demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the negotiations.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable advances" at the talks.

He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge development" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the war.

Last week, Zelensky suggested a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Settling the last 10% would "decide the outcome of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has often said that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date ruled out ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This sparked a period of focused negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the document.

Last month, Ukraine sent the US an new framework – as well as separate documents describing prospective security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky stated.