Britain and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine if a peace deal be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

After negotiations with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "set up defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct fortified structures for military hardware and equipment" to deter any subsequent attack.

The coalition members also suggested that the US would assume leadership in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this new development.

Background and Ongoing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This represents an essential component of our commitment to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," commented Starmer.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that Britain would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and strong reconstruction vows are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a key condition made by Ukraine.

The negotiator indicated the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such assurances "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "major progress" at the negotiations.

He noted that "strong" defense assurances for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the conclusion of the conflict.

Recently, he suggested a settlement was "largely prepared". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the outcome of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has often said that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, dismissing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has thus far rejected surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

This led to weeks of focused discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the document.

The previous month, Kyiv submitted the US an revised framework – as well as distinct documents describing prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.