UK and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Finalized

The London and Paris have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has stated.

After negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the allies would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and build fortified installations for military hardware and equipment" to deter any potential incursion.

The coalition members also put forward that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

Russia has repeatedly cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this new announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

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

Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a joint press conference, he added: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The PM also stated that London would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a potential ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "lasting security guarantees and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by Ukraine.

The negotiator said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such pledges "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the talks.

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

He noted that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Kyiv had been reached in the instance of a prospective ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the conclusion of the war.

Last week, Zelensky indicated a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has to date ruled out surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

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

The original US-led 28-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This led to a period of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the proposal.

The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents describing possible security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.