The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "create defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and construct secure installations for arms and defense matériel" to discourage any potential invasion.

The partner countries also put forward that the US would play the primary role in monitoring a ceasefire.

Moscow has on multiple occasions cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this recent announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces presently holds approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

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

He stated at a joint press conference, Starmer further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would participate in any US-led monitoring of a potential truce.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable defense assurances and substantial reconstruction vows are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by Ukraine.

The negotiator indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the talks.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant headway" at the talks.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the end of the war.

Last week, he said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the last 10% would "shape the future of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far ruled out giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This led to a period of focused diplomacy – with all sides trying to adjust the document.

Last month, Kyiv submitted the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents outlining potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.