The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The UK and France have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of troops in the nation should a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "set up defense centers across Ukraine and erect secure installations for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any future invasion.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet commented on this new declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to support Ukraine for the long-term," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The PM also stated that London would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a potential ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and substantial economic promises are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by Ukraine.

He indicated the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such pledges "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the talks.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "major progress" at the meeting.

He said that "comprehensive" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the instance of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict.

Last week, Zelensky said a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the fate of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, dismissing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This led to weeks of focused negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, The Ukrainian government presented the US an new 20-point plan – as well as separate documents detailing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he said.