UK and France to Deploy Troops to the Country in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The London and Paris have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of troops in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be made with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the allies would "set up military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct protected installations for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any potential attack.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Russia has repeatedly stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet responded on this latest development.

The Situation and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The PM went on to say that the UK would be involved in any US-led monitoring of a potential truce.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and strong economic promises are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the talks.

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

He added that "robust" safety pledges for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the end of the conflict.

Last week, he indicated a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date rejected giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This led to weeks of focused negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the draft.

Recently, Ukraine presented the US an new proposal – as well as separate documents detailing prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, he added.