The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have signed a statement of purpose concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation in the event a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Subsequent to discussions with allied nations in Paris, he said that the two nations would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and build fortified facilities for arms and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent invasion.

The allied nations also put forward that the US would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has on multiple occasions warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not issued a statement on this recent development.

The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," commented the UK Prime Minister.

National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Partner Group" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could function on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The PM added that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed monitoring of a prospective ceasefire.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term security guarantees and substantial economic promises are essential to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a major demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on establishing such guarantees "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."

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

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "major advances" at the talks.

He said that "robust" defense assurances for Ukraine had been settled upon in the case of a potential truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they culminated in the end of the conflict.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the fate of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has so far excluded giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Russia's direction.

This triggered weeks of intensive negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.

Last month, Kyiv presented the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as additional documents detailing potential security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, he stated.