Britain and France Plan to Send Troops to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a ceasefire be made with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following discussions with allied nations in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "establish defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and erect secure facilities for arms and military equipment" to deter any potential attack.

The allied nations also put forward that the US would play the primary role in verifying a truce.

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

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time controls approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to support Ukraine for the duration," stated the UK Prime Minister.

Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that London would take part in any Washington-directed monitoring of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff remarked that "lasting security guarantees and substantial economic promises are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central condition made by Kyiv.

Witkoff noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the discussions.

Meanwhile, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable headway" at the negotiations.

He noted that "robust" defense assurances for Ukraine had been reached in the event of a potential ceasefire.

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

Last week, the Ukrainian leader indicated a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the outcome of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, refusing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has thus far ruled out ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow presently controls about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This triggered weeks of focused discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to amend the document.

Recently, The Ukrainian government sent the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents outlining prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President added.