Britain and France to Deploy Military Personnel to the Country if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The UK and France have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect secure installations for weapons and defense matériel" to prevent any potential invasion.

The partner countries also put forward that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet responded on this latest declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.

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

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, he added: "It establishes the framework for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The PM went on to say that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible truce.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "durable safety pledges and strong economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a major requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on establishing such pledges "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

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

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

He added that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been settled upon in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the cessation of the conflict.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader suggested a settlement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has so far excluded giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point framework that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.

This sparked weeks of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to amend the draft.

The previous month, Kyiv presented the US an revised framework – as well as separate documents outlining possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, he added.