Britain and France Plan to Send Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Reached

The British and French governments have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the stationing of military forces in Ukraine should a ceasefire be struck with Russia, the British leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced.

After discussions with Kyiv's partners in the French capital, he noted that the allies would "establish operational bases throughout Ukraine and construct protected structures for arms and defense matériel" to deter any future attack.

The coalition members also suggested that the America would take the lead in monitoring a ceasefire.

Moscow has consistently cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has as yet not issued a statement on this latest announcement.

Background and Ongoing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces at this time occupies roughly 20% of the country's land.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the Paris negotiations.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer added: "It creates the pathway for the juridical structure under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

The British leader also stated that Britain would take part in any US-led confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and substantial prosperity commitments are critical to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major demand made by the Ukrainian government.

Witkoff said the coalition had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such pledges "in order that the citizens of Ukraine know that when this war ends, it ends permanently."

The former US envoy, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the talks.

Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "significant advances" at the negotiations.

He noted that "comprehensive" defense assurances for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a potential ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "huge step forward" had been made in the talks, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the end of the conflict.

Recently, he suggested a peace agreement was "largely prepared". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "shape the fate of the peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
• Moscow has repeatedly warned that Kyiv's military must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to end the war.
• Zelensky has so far rejected giving up any land, but has suggested that Ukraine could pull back its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Moscow currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive framework that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being heavily skewed in Russia's favor.

This triggered weeks of focused discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the draft.

Recently, Kyiv sent the US an revised framework – as well as additional documents outlining prospective security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine's rebuilding, the President added.