UK and France to Deploy Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Agreed

The London and Paris have formalized a declaration of intent concerning the deployment of troops in the nation if a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

After discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the allies would "establish operational bases throughout Ukraine and construct secure facilities for military hardware and military equipment" to discourage any potential invasion.

The partner countries also put forward that the America would assume leadership in verifying a ceasefire.

Russia has consistently cautioned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not issued a statement on this recent development.

The Situation and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, he further said: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that London would participate in any Washington-directed verification of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting defense assurances and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by Ukraine.

The negotiator indicated the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

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

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable advances" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a possible truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the fighting.

Last week, he suggested a peace agreement was "90% ready". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, refusing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Kyiv has so far ruled out giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of the Donbas.

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

This triggered weeks of intensive negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the draft.

Last month, Ukraine submitted the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as separate documents detailing potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he said.