UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Reached

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in the nation should a ceasefire be made with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has stated.

After talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and build protected facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to discourage any subsequent attack.

The partner countries also proposed that the America would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not issued a statement on this recent announcement.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently holds approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, Starmer further said: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a possible truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a major demand made by the Ukrainian government.

He noted the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the talks.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "major advances" at the talks.

He added that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Ukraine had been reached in the event of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the cessation of the conflict.

Last week, Zelensky said a settlement was "90% ready". Settling the last 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date excluded ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This sparked weeks of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to amend the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an new framework – as well as distinct documents detailing possible security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, the President said.