Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in the nation should a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the two nations would "establish defense centers across Ukraine and erect secure structures for weapons and equipment" to discourage any future attack.

The partner countries also put forward that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a truce.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet issued a statement on this recent announcement.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia presently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."

The PM went on to say that the UK would participate in any US-led monitoring of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "significant headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "strong" defense assurances for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a prospective ceasefire.

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

Earlier, he said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Settling the remaining 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has so far ruled out giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of the Donbas.

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

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

Recently, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents describing possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.