🔗 Share this article UK and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Agreed The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated. Subsequent to discussions with allied nations in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "create defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct fortified installations for weapons and defense matériel" to discourage any potential invasion. The coalition members also proposed that the America would take the lead in verifying a truce. Russia has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet commented on this latest declaration. Background and Ongoing Conflict Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil. "This is a vital part of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader. Top officials and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the Paris negotiations. Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the future." The UK prime minister went on to say that London would take part in any US-led verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities. Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and robust economic promises are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a major condition made by the Ukrainian government. Witkoff noted the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good." The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the negotiations. Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "significant progress" at the talks. He added that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a possible ceasefire. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they led to the end of the war. Earlier, he indicated a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe". Outstanding Matters Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of key disagreements for negotiators. Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, refusing any compromise over how to conclude the war. The Ukrainian President has to date rejected surrendering any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates. Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the area of the Donbas. The original US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction. This triggered a period of focused negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document. Recently, Ukraine sent the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as additional documents describing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.
The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine should a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has stated. Subsequent to discussions with allied nations in Paris, he said that the UK and France would "create defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct fortified installations for weapons and defense matériel" to discourage any potential invasion. The coalition members also proposed that the America would take the lead in verifying a truce. Russia has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet commented on this latest declaration. Background and Ongoing Conflict Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil. "This is a vital part of our vow to stand with Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader. Top officials and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the Paris negotiations. Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the future." The UK prime minister went on to say that London would take part in any US-led verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities. Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and robust economic promises are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a major condition made by the Ukrainian government. Witkoff noted the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good." The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the negotiations. Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "significant progress" at the talks. He added that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached in the case of a possible ceasefire. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they led to the end of the war. Earlier, he indicated a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe". Outstanding Matters Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of key disagreements for negotiators. Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, refusing any compromise over how to conclude the war. The Ukrainian President has to date rejected surrendering any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates. Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the area of the Donbas. The original US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction. This triggered a period of focused negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document. Recently, Ukraine sent the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as additional documents describing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.