UK and France to Deploy Troops to the Country if a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The British and French governments have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in the nation should a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to talks with allied nations in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "set up military hubs throughout Ukraine and construct secure facilities for weapons and defense matériel" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet responded on this recent announcement.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the duration," stated the British leader.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer further said: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's military for the future."

The PM added that the UK would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting security guarantees and strong economic promises are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central requirement made by Kyiv.

He noted the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the discussions.

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable advances" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the instance of a prospective truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the fighting.

Last week, the Ukrainian leader suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "decide the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of key disagreements for negotiators.
• Putin has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, refusing any concession over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has so far rejected ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This triggered a period of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the proposal.

Recently, The Ukrainian government sent the US an updated framework – as well as distinct documents describing prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President said.