The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Forces to the Country should a Ceasefire Accord is Finalized

The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation should a ceasefire be struck with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has announced.

Following talks with allied nations in the French capital, he said that the two nations would "create defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and construct fortified structures for arms and military equipment" to deter any future invasion.

The partner countries also proposed that the US would take the lead in overseeing a halt in hostilities.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not commented on this latest development.

Context and Ongoing War

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to support Ukraine for the long-term," commented Starmer.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the recent discussions.

Speaking at a shared media briefing, he further said: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."

The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would be involved in any US-led monitoring of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions

Senior Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and robust economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – referring to a key condition made by Ukraine.

Witkoff said the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such assurances "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."

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

Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant advances" at the talks.

He said that "robust" security guarantees for Ukraine had been settled upon in the event of a potential truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant development" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the cessation of the war.

Recently, the Ukrainian leader suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Unresolved Issues

• Land and defense assurances have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far ruled out surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Russian forces currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

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

Last month, Ukraine sent the US an revised framework – as well as distinct documents outlining prospective defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's recovery, he added.