Britain and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine should a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the allies would "set up defense centers across Ukraine and build fortified structures for arms and military equipment" to prevent any subsequent incursion.

The coalition members also proposed that the United States would take the lead in overseeing a truce.

Russia has consistently stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not responded on this latest declaration.

Context and Continuing Conflict

The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," remarked the British leader.

National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, Starmer added: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader also stated that Britain would participate in any Washington-directed verification of a potential ceasefire.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – referring to a central demand made by Ukraine.

He indicated the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such pledges "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the discussions.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "considerable headway" at the talks.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge advance" had been made in Paris, but qualified that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the cessation of the conflict.

Last week, Zelensky said a peace deal was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukraine's forces must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, rejecting any middle ground over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far excluded giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the area of Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This sparked weeks of high-level diplomacy – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

Recently, Ukraine sent the US an new framework – as well as separate documents outlining possible security guarantees and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President said.