The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Forces to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of armed personnel in the nation should a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

After discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "set up military hubs across Ukraine and construct secure installations for military hardware and military equipment" to discourage any potential incursion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not issued a statement on this recent announcement.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

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

He stated at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that the UK would participate in any American-headed monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.

He added that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the instance of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Recently, he indicated a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "shape the fate of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected surrendering any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, Kyiv sent the US an new framework – as well as separate documents describing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he said.