UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The London and Paris have signed a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has announced.

After negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and construct protected installations for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any future invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this latest announcement.

Context and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The PM went on to say that London would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "durable safety pledges and strong economic promises are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He said the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such guarantees "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the talks.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "major advances" at the meeting.

He added that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major development" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict.

Last week, he indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This led to weeks of intensive negotiations – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as additional documents outlining potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky added.