Britain and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country if a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The London and Paris have signed a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine if a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

After talks with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "create operational bases throughout Ukraine and erect fortified installations for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any potential invasion.

The partner countries also put forward that the US would assume leadership in overseeing a ceasefire.

Russia has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet responded on this recent announcement.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow at this time occupies roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," remarked Starmer.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister noted: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the future."

The British leader added that London would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and strong prosperity commitments are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a central requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the negotiations.

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

He said that "robust" security guarantees for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the case of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they led to the cessation of the war.

Earlier, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has thus far rejected giving up any land, 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 controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The original US-led comprehensive framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This sparked weeks of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the document.

Recently, Kyiv presented the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents detailing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.