Britain and France Will Dispatch Forces to the Country if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The British and French governments have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in the nation in the event a peace agreement be made with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the allies would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and build protected installations for arms and military equipment" to discourage any future incursion.

The coalition members also proposed that the America would play the primary role 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 so far not issued a statement on this latest development.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time holds roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a combined announcement, Starmer added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The PM added that Britain would take part in any US-led verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and robust reconstruction vows are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "major headway" at the talks.

He said that "strong" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the instance of a potential ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, Zelensky said a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This sparked a period of intensive discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated framework – as well as distinct documents describing potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.