🔗 Share this article The United Kingdom and France to Deploy Military Personnel to Ukraine should a Peace Deal is Reached The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation if a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced. Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the allies would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified installations for weapons and equipment" to discourage any potential incursion. The partner countries also proposed that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a truce. Moscow has repeatedly stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet commented on this new announcement. Context and Ongoing War Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently occupies about 20% of the country's land. "This is a vital part of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader. National leaders and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the recent discussions. He stated at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future." The UK prime minister also stated that London would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities. Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central condition made by the Ukrainian government. The negotiator indicated the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever." Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the discussions. At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable headway" at the meeting. He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the event of a potential truce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting. Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "determine the future of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe". Unresolved Issues Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for negotiators. Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any middle ground over how to finish the war. Zelensky has thus far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates. Russian forces presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas. The original US-led comprehensive framework that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction. This triggered a period of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal. Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents describing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President added.
The UK and France have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation if a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced. Following discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the allies would "set up military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified installations for weapons and equipment" to discourage any potential incursion. The partner countries also proposed that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a truce. Moscow has repeatedly stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has not yet commented on this new announcement. Context and Ongoing War Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently occupies about 20% of the country's land. "This is a vital part of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the British leader. National leaders and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the recent discussions. He stated at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister added: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, defending Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the future." The UK prime minister also stated that London would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities. Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are vital to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central condition made by the Ukrainian government. The negotiator indicated the allies had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such guarantees "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends forever." Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's representative, also participated in the discussions. At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable headway" at the meeting. He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been settled upon in the event of a potential truce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge development" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "enough" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting. Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "determine the future of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe". Unresolved Issues Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for negotiators. Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any middle ground over how to finish the war. Zelensky has thus far excluded surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates. Russian forces presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of Donbas. The original US-led comprehensive framework that was circulated to the media last year was seen by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction. This triggered a period of intensive diplomacy – with the involved parties trying to amend the proposal. Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents describing potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, the President added.