Britain and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine if a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "establish operational bases across Ukraine and erect secure facilities for arms and military equipment" to discourage any future incursion.

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

The Kremlin has on multiple occasions stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not issued a statement on this new development.

Background and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces presently controls roughly 20% of the country's land.

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

National leaders and top officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" participated in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a shared media briefing, he added: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

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

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "durable defense assurances and substantial economic promises are vital to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff noted the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also took part in the talks.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "considerable headway" at the meeting.

He noted that "strong" safety pledges for Ukraine had been agreed in the case of a possible ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant advance" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict.

Recently, Zelensky suggested a peace agreement was "90% ready". Settling the outstanding 10% would "shape the outcome of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Outstanding Matters

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date rejected giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russia currently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The areas form the industrial region of the Donbas.

The original US-led multi-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.

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

Last month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an updated framework – as well as separate documents detailing prospective defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky stated.