UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country if a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The British and French governments have inked a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of armed personnel in the nation should a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

After negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "set up operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct fortified structures for weapons and military equipment" to prevent any future invasion.

The allied nations also put forward that the US would assume leadership in verifying a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not commented on this latest development.

Context and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a combined announcement, he further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "durable defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

He noted the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such pledges "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the negotiations.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.

He added that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the event of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the conflict.

Recently, he suggested a peace deal was "largely prepared". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the future of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, dismissing any compromise over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has thus far ruled out surrendering any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This triggered weeks of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to amend the document.

Last month, Kyiv presented the US an new 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, he stated.