UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to the Country in the event that a Peace Deal is Agreed

The UK and France have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in the nation in the event a peace deal be struck with Russia, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.

Following talks with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he said that the allies would "establish military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified structures for military hardware and defense matériel" to deter any subsequent incursion.

The partner countries also suggested that the United States would take the lead in verifying a ceasefire.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not commented on this new announcement.

The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time holds roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the long-term," commented Starmer.

Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" participated in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would be involved in any US-led confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Diplomatic Positions

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term safety pledges and robust economic promises are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a major condition made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such pledges "so that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."

Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the discussions.

Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant headway" at the negotiations.

He noted that "comprehensive" security guarantees for Ukraine had been agreed in the case of a possible truce.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major development" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the end of the war.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a settlement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the remaining 10% would "decide the fate of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, dismissing any compromise over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could move its forces to an agreed point – but only if Russia does the same.

Moscow presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.

The earlier US-led multi-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level discussions – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to revise the document.

The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents detailing prospective defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, he stated.