Britain and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The UK and France have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of troops in the nation in the event a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to talks with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he said that the allies would "establish military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build secure installations for arms and military equipment" to discourage any future invasion.

The allied nations also suggested that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not responded on this recent declaration.

The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia at this time occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated the British leader.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, he further said: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would take part in any American-headed monitoring of a potential truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a major requirement made by Kyiv.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such assurances "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the talks.

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

He noted that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the cessation of the war.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the outstanding 10% would "shape the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has so far excluded ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

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

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to a period of focused negotiations – with all sides trying to amend the proposal.

Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an new framework – as well as additional documents outlining prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.