UK and France Will Dispatch Military Personnel to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have signed a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of troops in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he indicated that the allies would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct fortified structures for arms and military equipment" to discourage any potential incursion.

The allied nations also suggested that the United States would take the lead in verifying a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not issued a statement on this new declaration.

Background and Continuing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time holds about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in Tuesday's talks.

He stated at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister noted: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The British leader added that London would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a possible truce.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting safety pledges and robust economic promises are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a key condition made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator indicated the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the talks.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant progress" at the talks.

He said that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a potential truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major development" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they led to the end of the conflict.

Earlier, Zelensky said a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any concession over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has thus far excluded surrendering any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow currently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.

The initial US-led 28-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of focused negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.

Last month, Kyiv presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as additional documents detailing potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.