The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Agreement is Reached

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine if a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct fortified facilities for weapons and equipment" to discourage any subsequent attack.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would assume leadership in overseeing a truce.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet commented on this recent declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented Starmer.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that the UK would take part in any US-led confirmation of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a major requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such pledges "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

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

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

He added that "strong" safety pledges for Ukraine had been settled upon in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the cessation of the war.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the last 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This sparked weeks of intensive discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the draft.

Last month, Kyiv sent the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents outlining possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, he stated.