The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of armed personnel in the nation if a ceasefire be made with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the two nations would "create military hubs across Ukraine and construct fortified installations for arms and defense matériel" to prevent any subsequent attack.

The partner countries also put forward that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet responded on this new announcement.

The Situation and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently holds roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a combined announcement, he added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The PM went on to say that London would take part in any American-headed confirmation of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and substantial prosperity commitments are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a key requirement made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such pledges "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

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

He added that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a possible truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Last week, the Ukrainian leader indicated a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "decide the future of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date ruled out ceding any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the document.

The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an updated proposal – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President said.