Britain and France to Deploy Military Personnel to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine if a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Subsequent to talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and erect fortified facilities for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any subsequent incursion.

The coalition members also proposed that the US would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Russia has on multiple occasions cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not responded on this latest development.

The Situation and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces presently holds approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term," stated Starmer.

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

He stated at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The British leader also stated that Britain would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and robust economic promises are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a major requirement made by Ukraine.

He said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the talks.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable advances" at the negotiations.

He said that "comprehensive" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the instance of a prospective truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major development" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader indicated a peace agreement was "90% ready". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "decide the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far ruled out giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of high-level diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to amend the document.

The previous month, Ukraine sent the US an revised framework – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.