UK and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Finalized

The UK and France have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in the nation in the event a peace deal be made with Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has stated.

Following discussions with allied nations in Paris, he said that the two nations would "establish military hubs across Ukraine and erect protected installations for weapons and military equipment" to discourage any future invasion.

The coalition members also proposed that the US would take the lead in verifying a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not commented on this latest declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow currently occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

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

National leaders and top officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister added that London would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and robust economic promises are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a central condition made by Kyiv.

Witkoff noted the allies had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the talks.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable advances" at the talks.

He said that "robust" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a possible truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the war.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a peace agreement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "shape the fate of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date ruled out giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The two regions form the area of Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This led to weeks of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the draft.

Last month, Kyiv presented the US an updated proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing potential defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.