The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed

The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine in the event a peace deal be struck with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to talks with allied nations in the French capital, he said that the UK and France would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified structures for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any subsequent incursion.

The allied nations also proposed that the United States would play the primary role in overseeing a truce.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this recent announcement.

Context and Continuing Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow presently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This represents an essential component of our pledge to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."

The UK prime minister went on to say that London would take part in any US-led monitoring of a possible truce.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term defense assurances and robust prosperity commitments are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central demand made by Kyiv.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such assurances "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the negotiations.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

He noted that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been settled upon in the case of a potential ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant development" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the end of the conflict.

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

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has to date ruled out ceding any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led comprehensive proposal that was circulated to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of high-level diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the proposal.

Recently, Kyiv presented the US an new framework – as well as additional documents outlining potential security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he stated.