The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country should a Peace Deal is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be made with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "establish defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and construct secure facilities for weapons and equipment" to deter any potential attack.

The allied nations also proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this new declaration.

Background and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently controls roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" took part in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The PM added that London would be involved in any US-led monitoring of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major demand made by Kyiv.

Witkoff noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the talks.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the talks.

He said that "comprehensive" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a possible truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the end of the fighting.

Earlier, he suggested a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far rejected surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted 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 Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This led to weeks of intensive negotiations – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal.

Recently, The Ukrainian government sent the US an updated proposal – as well as distinct documents describing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, he stated.