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

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in Ukraine should a peace deal be struck with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the two nations would "set up military hubs across Ukraine and build secure installations for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any future invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the US would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire.

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

Context and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently holds about 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

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

He stated at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister added: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The PM went on to say that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed monitoring of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a central requirement made by Ukraine.

The negotiator indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "major headway" at the talks.

He said that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Kyiv had been settled upon in the event of a prospective truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the future of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This sparked weeks of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an updated framework – as well as separate documents outlining prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.