Britain and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he indicated that the allies would "establish operational bases across Ukraine and build secure structures for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent incursion.

The allied nations also proposed that the America would play the primary role in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has on multiple occasions cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not responded on this latest development.

The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia presently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," commented the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a combined announcement, he noted: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that Britain would take part in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting security guarantees and robust economic promises are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a key requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such pledges "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

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

At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable advances" at the meeting.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major advance" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the end of the war.

Recently, Zelensky said a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, dismissing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has so far rejected surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point peace plan that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's direction.

This led to a period of intensive discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the document.

Last month, Ukraine submitted the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as additional documents describing prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's recovery, the President stated.