UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "establish defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified structures for arms and equipment" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the America would take the lead in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Russia has on multiple occasions warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not commented on this recent declaration.

Background and Continuing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow presently occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The PM went on to say that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term safety pledges and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

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

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

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "major progress" at the negotiations.

He noted that "strong" safety pledges for Ukraine had been reached in the event of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant step forward" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the end of the conflict.

Earlier, he said a settlement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has often said that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, Ukraine sent the US an new 20-point plan – as well as separate documents detailing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, he said.