UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Finalized
The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has stated.
Subsequent to discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "create defense centers throughout Ukraine and construct protected structures for military hardware and military equipment" to discourage any subsequent attack.
The partner countries also proposed that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a ceasefire.
Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has as yet not responded on this latest declaration.
The Situation and Ongoing Conflict
The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces at this time holds approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.
"This constitutes a crucial element of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated Starmer.
National leaders and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the recent discussions.
Speaking at a joint press conference, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future."
The PM also stated that London would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a possible truce.
Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances
Senior US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term defense assurances and strong economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.
The negotiator indicated the coalition had "largely finished" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends for good."
Donald Trump's son-in-law, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the negotiations.
At the same time, France's leader Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "significant advances" at the negotiations.
He said that "robust" security guarantees for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a prospective ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge development" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "sufficient" if they culminated in the conclusion of the war.
Last week, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the last 10% would "decide the future of peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".
Remaining Challenges
- Land and defense assurances have been at the center of key disagreements for negotiators.
- The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
- Zelensky has thus far rejected giving up any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.
Russian forces presently occupies approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the heartland of Donbas.
The original US-led 28-point peace plan that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.
This led to weeks of intensive negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the draft.
The previous month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an revised 20-point plan – as well as distinct documents detailing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President added.
