Britain and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Finalized

The London and Paris have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be made with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to talks with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct secure facilities for arms and defense matériel" to discourage any future incursion.

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

Moscow has on multiple occasions warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not responded on this new development.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the recent discussions.

He stated at a joint press conference, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader added that London would take part in any Washington-directed monitoring of a potential ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and robust economic promises are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by Kyiv.

Witkoff indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such assurances "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.

He noted that "strong" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader said a peace agreement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• The Russian President has often said that Kyiv's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of the Donbas.

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

This led to weeks of high-level negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the proposal.

Recently, The Ukrainian government sent the US an revised proposal – as well as additional documents describing potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President said.