UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The British and French governments have signed a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine should a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Following talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he noted that the UK and France would "create operational bases throughout Ukraine and erect fortified installations for weapons and military equipment" to deter any future attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the America would play the primary role in verifying a ceasefire.

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

Context and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented the British leader.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a combined announcement, Starmer added: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The PM added that London would be involved in any US-led verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major condition made by Ukraine.

The negotiator indicated the allies had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such assurances "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

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

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

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "significant advance" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the cessation of the war.

Last week, Zelensky said a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the future of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has often said that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, refusing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the area of Donbas.

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

This sparked weeks of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the document.

The previous month, Ukraine presented the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents outlining prospective defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President added.