Britain and France to Deploy Troops to the Country if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace deal be struck with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the allies would "set up military hubs across Ukraine and build secure structures for weapons and equipment" to deter any future incursion.

The coalition members also suggested that the United States would play the primary role in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has consistently stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this latest development.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a joint press conference, Starmer added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would be involved in any US-led verification of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "lasting security guarantees and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major requirement made by Kyiv.

He said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the discussions.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant advances" at the meeting.

He noted that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been agreed in the case of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader said a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Settling the last 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has often said that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any concession over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date rejected giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of high-level discussions – with the involved parties trying to revise the proposal.

Recently, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents describing potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky stated.