Britain and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The UK and France have signed a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation should a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Following talks with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect secure facilities for weapons and equipment" to prevent any future invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the United States would play the primary role in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Russia has consistently cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest development.

Context and Ongoing War

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces presently occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The British leader also stated that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable safety pledges and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major condition made by Kyiv.

Witkoff said the coalition had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the talks.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "major progress" at the talks.

He added that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a potential ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the cessation of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky suggested a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Settling the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This led to a period of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to revise the draft.

Last month, Ukraine submitted the US an revised framework – as well as distinct documents outlining possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, he said.