The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country if a Peace Deal is Finalized

The UK and France have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation if a peace agreement be made with Russia, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

After talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "set up operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and construct protected installations for arms and military equipment" to discourage any potential attack.

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

Russia has consistently stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow at this time occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," commented the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The British leader also stated that London would participate in any American-headed verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable safety pledges and robust economic promises are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff indicated the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

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

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "significant advances" at the talks.

He noted that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the instance of a prospective ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the conflict.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader said a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the last 10% would "shape the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any middle ground over how to end the war.
• Kyiv has thus far rejected surrendering any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.

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

The earlier US-led multi-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to revise the proposal.

Last month, The Ukrainian government presented the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents describing possible defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky said.