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

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to discussions with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "establish operational bases throughout Ukraine and erect fortified installations for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent attack.

The partner countries also proposed that the America would play the primary role in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not commented on this new development.

Context and Ongoing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow currently holds roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The UK prime minister added that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed monitoring of a possible ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term safety pledges and robust economic promises are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by Ukraine.

The negotiator indicated the allies had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the discussions.

At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable headway" at the negotiations.

He noted that "strong" safety pledges for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a possible truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major development" had been made in the talks, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader said a peace deal was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "shape the fate of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, dismissing any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has so far ruled out surrendering any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces currently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This led to weeks of intensive discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the draft.

Recently, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated framework – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.