The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Military Personnel to the Country if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The British and French governments have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation in the event a peace deal be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the allies would "create military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build protected installations for military hardware and equipment" to discourage any potential incursion.

The coalition members also proposed that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a ceasefire.

Moscow has consistently stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not commented on this recent development.

Context and Continuing Conflict

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

"This is a vital part of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented Starmer.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would participate in any US-led confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and robust economic promises are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a major demand made by Ukraine.

The negotiator said the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the discussions.

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

He noted that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Kyiv had been agreed in the instance of a possible truce.

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

Last week, Zelensky said a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "determine the fate of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This triggered a period of high-level discussions – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents describing possible defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.