🔗 Share this article UK and France Plan to Send Forces to the Country if a Ceasefire Accord is Reached The UK and France have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has declared. After discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "establish defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and erect secure structures for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any potential incursion. The partner countries also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire. Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest announcement. Context and Ongoing Hostilities The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time controls approximately 20% of the country's land. "This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister. National leaders and top officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the Paris negotiations. Speaking at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future." The British leader added that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective ceasefire. Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by the Ukrainian government. He noted the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good." Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the talks. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations. He added that "comprehensive" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the instance of a potential truce. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the cessation of the conflict. Recently, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the future of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe". Remaining Challenges Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats. The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war. The Ukrainian President has to date ruled out giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates. Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas. The initial US-led multi-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction. This led to weeks of focused diplomacy – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal. Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents describing potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.
The UK and France have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has declared. After discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the UK and France would "establish defense centers in various parts of Ukraine and erect secure structures for military hardware and military equipment" to prevent any potential incursion. The partner countries also suggested that the United States would assume leadership in monitoring a ceasefire. Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest announcement. Context and Ongoing Hostilities The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia at this time controls approximately 20% of the country's land. "This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister. National leaders and top officials from the "Partner Group" took part in the Paris negotiations. Speaking at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future." The British leader added that the UK would take part in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective ceasefire. Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and strong reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a key demand made by the Ukrainian government. He noted the coalition had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good." Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also took part in the talks. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable progress" at the negotiations. He added that "comprehensive" defense assurances for the Ukrainian government had been settled upon in the instance of a potential truce. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they culminated in the cessation of the conflict. Recently, Zelensky indicated a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the future of the agreement, the fate of Ukraine and Europe". Remaining Challenges Land and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for diplomats. The Russian President has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war. The Ukrainian President has to date ruled out giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia reciprocates. Russian forces presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas. The initial US-led multi-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being disproportionately favorable in Russia's direction. This led to weeks of focused diplomacy – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal. Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents describing potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.