The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine should a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to discussions with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the two nations would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected structures for arms and equipment" to discourage any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the US would assume leadership in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this recent development.

Context and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow at this time holds roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," stated the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would be involved in any American-headed monitoring of a possible truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such pledges "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the talks.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "significant headway" at the negotiations.

He said that "robust" security guarantees for Kyiv had been settled upon in the event of a prospective truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the fighting.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of key disagreements for the parties involved.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to amend the proposal.

The previous month, Ukraine sent the US an new 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents outlining possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he stated.