UK and France to Deploy Troops to Ukraine in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The British and French governments have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

After discussions with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct protected installations for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent incursion.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a truce.

Moscow has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet responded on this latest announcement.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia at this time controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented the British leader.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, Starmer further said: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The UK prime minister added that London would participate in any American-headed verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a key requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

He said the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "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 representative, also was involved in the discussions.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant advances" at the negotiations.

He noted that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been settled upon in the instance of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the conclusion of the conflict.

Last week, Zelensky indicated a settlement was "90% ready". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date rejected surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led 28-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This sparked a period of high-level negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an new 20-point plan – as well as additional documents detailing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he added.