The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Forces to the Country should a Peace Deal is Agreed

The UK and France have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be made with Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

Following discussions with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and erect protected structures for arms and defense matériel" to discourage any potential incursion.

The partner countries also put forward that the US would play the primary role in overseeing a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet issued a statement on this recent declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

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

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The PM also stated that the UK would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by Kyiv.

He said the allies had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever."

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

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.

He added that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been agreed in the instance of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant development" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the end of the war.

Earlier, Zelensky said a settlement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the center of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's favor.

This triggered a period of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an new proposal – as well as separate documents describing prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.