UK and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Agreed

The London and Paris have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace deal be made with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the UK and France would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified facilities for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

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

The Kremlin has consistently stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest declaration.

The Situation and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow at this time controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," stated the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer further said: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed confirmation of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "durable safety pledges and substantial economic promises are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major requirement made by Ukraine.

The negotiator said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the talks.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "major progress" at the meeting.

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the instance of a prospective truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major development" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the end of the fighting.

Recently, he said a peace deal was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "shape the outcome of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has thus far ruled out surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This sparked a period of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

The previous month, Kyiv presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as separate documents outlining possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President stated.