Britain and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country in the event that a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The London and Paris have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation if a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with allied nations in Paris, he said that the allies would "create operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and build protected facilities for weapons and equipment" to deter any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also put forward that the United States would play the primary role in monitoring a truce.

Russia has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this new declaration.

Background and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia currently occupies approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This represents an essential component of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked the British leader.

National leaders and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The PM added that the UK would take part in any US-led verification of a potential truce.

Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting defense assurances and robust economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by the Ukrainian government.

The negotiator said the allies had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the negotiations.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's allies had made "significant progress" at the meeting.

He added that "strong" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the instance of a possible truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge development" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they led to the conclusion of the conflict.

Recently, he said a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "determine the outcome of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for diplomats.
• The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date ruled out ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of Donbas.

The original US-led 28-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

Recently, The Ukrainian government presented the US an revised proposal – as well as additional documents outlining potential security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he said.