Britain and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The London and Paris have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of troops in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "set up defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and erect protected structures for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any potential attack.

The coalition members also put forward that the America would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet responded on this latest announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" took part in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister added: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister went on to say that Britain would participate in any American-headed verification of a prospective truce.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "durable security guarantees and substantial economic promises are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such assurances "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

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

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

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Ukraine had been settled upon in the instance of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge step forward" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the end of the war.

Earlier, Zelensky indicated a settlement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

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

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents outlining possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, he stated.