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

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the allies would "set up operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and erect fortified structures for weapons and defense matériel" to prevent any subsequent attack.

The coalition members also put forward that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a ceasefire.

Russia has repeatedly stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this latest announcement.

Context and Ongoing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time controls roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," commented Starmer.

National leaders and top officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, he further said: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable security guarantees and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He said the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such assurances "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

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

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "major advances" at the talks.

He added that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the cessation of the fighting.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace deal was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine 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 consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, refusing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's favor.

This triggered weeks of high-level negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the document.

Recently, Ukraine sent the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents describing potential security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.