UK and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The UK and France have inked a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to discussions with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "create military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build protected structures for military hardware and equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would play the primary role in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has not yet commented on this latest announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow at this time controls roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

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

Speaking at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the time to come."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would take part in any American-headed verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major demand made by Kyiv.

The negotiator noted the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the talks.

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

He said that "strong" safety pledges for Kyiv had been agreed in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they led to the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, he suggested a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of key disagreements for negotiators.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date ruled out ceding any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The two regions form the heartland of the Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's favor.

This triggered weeks of intensive diplomacy – with all sides trying to revise the document.

Last month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an revised proposal – as well as additional documents outlining possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, he stated.