The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the two nations would "set up military hubs across Ukraine and construct secure installations for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any future invasion.

The partner countries also suggested that the America would take the lead in verifying a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has consistently stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not commented on this latest declaration.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces presently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister added: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The PM also stated that the UK would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible truce.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term safety pledges and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a major requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator indicated the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the discussions.

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

He noted that "strong" safety pledges for Ukraine had been settled upon in the instance of a potential truce.

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

Last week, he suggested a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has thus far rejected surrendering any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This led to weeks of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to amend the proposal.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents detailing prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.