Britain and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The London and Paris have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation if a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

After negotiations with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the allies would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and erect protected installations for arms and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent attack.

The coalition members also put forward that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this latest announcement.

Background and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions.

He stated at a shared media briefing, he further said: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The PM went on to say that London would participate in any Washington-directed monitoring of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable security guarantees and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central condition made by Kyiv.

The negotiator indicated the coalition had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations.

He noted that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the instance of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader said a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "decide the outcome of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Putin has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has thus far excluded giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The two regions form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This sparked a period of focused negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

The previous month, Kyiv presented the US an new 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents detailing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President added.