UK and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine should a ceasefire be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct fortified structures for arms and defense matériel" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the US would take the lead in verifying a truce.

Russia has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not responded on this new announcement.

Background and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies about 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the duration," stated the UK Prime Minister.

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

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The PM went on to say that London would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "long-term defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such assurances "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

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

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant progress" at the negotiations.

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a possible ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant step forward" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the fighting.

Recently, Zelensky indicated a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the area of the Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of focused negotiations – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

Recently, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents outlining possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.