🔗 Share this article The United Kingdom and France Will Dispatch Forces to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Agreed The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has declared. After negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect secure facilities for arms and equipment" to discourage any future incursion. The partner countries also put forward that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a ceasefire. Russia has consistently stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet issued a statement on this recent declaration. The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow presently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil. "This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked the British leader. Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in the Paris negotiations. Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the time to come." The PM also stated that Britain would be involved in any American-headed confirmation of a potential cessation of hostilities. Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key condition made by Kyiv. The negotiator noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently." Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions. Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant progress" at the talks. He added that "strong" security guarantees for Ukraine had been settled upon in the event of a prospective truce. President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge development" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict. Earlier, he said a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe". Remaining Challenges Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for the parties involved. Putin has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to end the war. The Ukrainian President has so far excluded surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit. Russian forces currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas. The original US-led multi-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's direction. This led to weeks of focused negotiations – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal. The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents detailing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky added.
The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the British leader, Starmer, has declared. After negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "create military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect secure facilities for arms and equipment" to discourage any future incursion. The partner countries also put forward that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a ceasefire. Russia has consistently stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet issued a statement on this recent declaration. The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Moscow presently holds approximately 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil. "This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked the British leader. Top officials and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" were involved in the Paris negotiations. Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the time to come." The PM also stated that Britain would be involved in any American-headed confirmation of a potential cessation of hostilities. Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff said that "long-term security guarantees and substantial reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key condition made by Kyiv. The negotiator noted the allies had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently." Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions. Separately, France's leader Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "significant progress" at the talks. He added that "strong" security guarantees for Ukraine had been settled upon in the event of a prospective truce. President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge development" had been made in the negotiations, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict. Earlier, he said a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the last 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe". Remaining Challenges Land and security guarantees have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for the parties involved. Putin has consistently stated that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, dismissing any compromise over how to end the war. The Ukrainian President has so far excluded surrendering any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit. Russian forces currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas. The original US-led multi-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Russia's direction. This led to weeks of focused negotiations – with all sides trying to adjust the proposal. The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an new proposal – as well as additional documents detailing possible defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky added.