Britain and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace deal be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the two nations would "establish operational bases across Ukraine and build fortified facilities for military hardware and equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

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

Russia has consistently cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not issued a statement on this new declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently controls about 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the recent discussions.

He stated at a combined announcement, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the future."

The PM went on to say that Britain would be involved in any American-headed verification of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by Kyiv.

He noted the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations.

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the instance of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky suggested a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Settling the outstanding 10% would "shape the future of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This sparked a period of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents describing prospective security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, the President added.