Britain and France to Deploy Troops to the Country if a Ceasefire Accord is Reached
The British and French governments have formalized a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of military forces in Ukraine should a peace deal be made with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Keir Starmer, has announced.
After negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the allies would "set up operational bases across Ukraine and erect fortified structures for arms and military equipment" to deter any potential invasion.
The coalition members also suggested that the US would assume leadership in verifying a halt in hostilities.
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 announcement.
The Situation and Ongoing Conflict
The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin began a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of the country's land.
"This is a vital part of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," commented the UK Prime Minister.
Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions.
Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister added: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the future."
The UK prime minister also stated that London would participate in any Washington-directed confirmation of a prospective cessation of hostilities.
Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances
Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "durable defense assurances and strong economic promises are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine â alluding to a key demand made by Kyiv.
Witkoff said the allies had "mostly completed" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."
The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the discussions.
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "significant advances" at the talks.
He added that "robust" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a possible truce.
Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the conflict.
Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a settlement was "90% ready". Finalizing the last 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".
Remaining Challenges
- Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of key disagreements for the parties involved.
- Moscow has often said that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, refusing any concession over how to end the war.
- The Ukrainian President has so far excluded ceding any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an agreed point â but only if Russia does the same.
Russian forces presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of the Donbas.
The earlier US-led comprehensive framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.
This triggered weeks of focused diplomacy â with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal.
Recently, Ukraine sent the US an updated proposal â as well as additional documents describing prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, Zelensky said.
