UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace deal be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following talks with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "set up operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected facilities for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any future incursion.

The partner countries also suggested that the America would take the lead in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has repeatedly cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not commented on this new declaration.

Context and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces presently holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to support Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a combined announcement, he further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the future."

The UK prime minister also stated that London would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and substantial economic promises are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator indicated the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such assurances "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

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

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He noted that "comprehensive" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the event of a potential truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader said a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the outstanding 10% would "shape the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the area of the Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

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

Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents detailing possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky added.