Britain and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Agreed

The London and Paris have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine if a peace agreement be made with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "set up defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified structures for arms and equipment" to discourage any subsequent invasion.

The coalition members also put forward that the United States would play the primary role in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not responded on this new declaration.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the UK Prime Minister.

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

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a prospective truce.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable safety pledges and substantial reconstruction vows are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Ukraine.

He indicated the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such guarantees "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

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

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable progress" at the meeting.

He added that "strong" safety pledges for Ukraine had been settled upon in the instance of a potential truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the end of the war.

Earlier, Zelensky suggested a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the outcome of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has so far ruled out giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the proposal.

Last month, Kyiv presented the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents outlining prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky said.