The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of troops in the nation if a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the allies would "create defense centers throughout Ukraine and erect protected facilities for weapons and equipment" to discourage any future invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in monitoring a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not responded on this latest development.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow presently occupies about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

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

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The PM went on to say that London would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and robust economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by Kyiv.

He noted the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such pledges "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the talks.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a potential truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the fighting.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader said a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Putin has often said that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, refusing any compromise over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has so far excluded giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's favor.

This led to a period of intensive diplomacy – with all sides trying to amend the proposal.

Last month, Ukraine presented the US an revised proposal – as well as separate documents outlining potential security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, he said.