The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The British and French governments have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with allied nations in the French capital, he said that the two nations would "establish operational bases across Ukraine and build protected structures for weapons and defense matériel" to discourage any potential invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would assume leadership in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this new declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow presently controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to support Ukraine for the long-term," stated the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The British leader added that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a prospective truce.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting security guarantees and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a key condition made by Kyiv.

He indicated the partner nations 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 permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "major advances" at the meeting.

He said that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a potential ceasefire.

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

Recently, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace deal was "largely prepared". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This led to weeks of focused discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the document.

Last month, Kyiv presented the US an revised proposal – as well as additional documents detailing prospective defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he said.