UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country in the event that a Peace Deal is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "set up operational bases throughout Ukraine and erect secure facilities for weapons and military equipment" to deter any potential attack.

The allied nations also proposed that the America would assume leadership in monitoring a truce.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not commented on this latest development.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to support Ukraine for the long-term," commented the British leader.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a shared media briefing, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The PM went on to say that the UK would take part in any American-headed confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and strong economic promises are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a key condition made by Kyiv.

He said the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such pledges "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "significant advances" at the negotiations.

He said that "strong" safety pledges for Ukraine had been settled upon in the event of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they led to the cessation of the conflict.

Recently, Zelensky indicated a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date ruled out giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive proposal that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's favor.

This triggered a period of intensive discussions – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, Ukraine sent the US an new 20-point plan – as well as additional documents detailing potential defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President said.