Britain and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine should a Ceasefire Accord is Reached

The London and Paris have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine if a ceasefire be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has announced.

Following negotiations with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "establish defense centers throughout Ukraine and build fortified facilities for weapons and military equipment" to deter any potential attack.

The partner countries also put forward that the US would take the lead in overseeing a ceasefire.

The Kremlin has consistently stated that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this new declaration.

The Situation and Continuing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russian forces at this time controls approximately 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated Starmer.

Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the Paris negotiations.

He stated at a combined announcement, he noted: "It paves the way for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the time to come."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would participate in any American-headed monitoring of a potential cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff said that "lasting security guarantees and robust economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by Ukraine.

The negotiator said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on agreeing such guarantees "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

The former US envoy, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the negotiations.

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

He added that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Kyiv had been agreed in the instance of a possible truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the war.

Recently, Zelensky indicated a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the last 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• The Russian President has consistently stated that Kyiv's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will take control, rejecting any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Kyiv has to date excluded giving up any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russia currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.

This sparked a period of high-level discussions – with the involved parties trying to amend the document.

Last month, Kyiv presented the US an updated 20-point plan – as well as additional documents describing prospective defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President added.