Britain and France to Deploy Military Personnel to the Country should a Peace Agreement is Finalized

The London and Paris have signed a declaration of intent concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine if a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he said that the allies would "set up military hubs across Ukraine and build protected installations for weapons and military equipment" to deter any potential attack.

The coalition members also put forward that the United States would assume leadership in verifying a truce.

Russia has on multiple occasions cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not commented on this recent declaration.

Context and Ongoing Hostilities

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia currently holds roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to support Ukraine for the duration," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in Tuesday's talks.

Speaking at a joint press conference, he added: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that the UK would be involved in any American-headed confirmation of a prospective cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances

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

He indicated the allies had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such guarantees "in order that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "major headway" at the negotiations.

He added that "robust" safety pledges for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a possible truce.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the cessation of the war.

Earlier, Zelensky said a peace agreement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the last 10% would "shape the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of key disagreements for diplomats.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, dismissing any compromise over how to finish the war.
• Zelensky has to date rejected ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Moscow presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.

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

This led to a period of focused diplomacy – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the proposal.

Last month, Ukraine sent the US an updated framework – as well as separate documents detailing potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President stated.