Britain and France Will Dispatch Forces to the Country in the event that a Peace Agreement is Agreed

The London and Paris have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of military forces in the nation should a peace deal be concluded with Moscow, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated.

After negotiations with Ukraine's allies in Paris, he indicated that the UK and France would "set up military hubs throughout Ukraine and erect protected facilities for arms and defense matériel" to deter any future attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the America would take the lead in monitoring a truce.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this recent declaration.

The Situation and Ongoing Hostilities

Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Moscow at this time controls about 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.

"This is a vital part of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the duration," commented the UK Prime Minister.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.

Addressing reporters at a joint press conference, 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, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."

The British leader went on to say that the UK would participate in any American-headed confirmation of a possible cessation of hostilities.

Protection Pledges and Negotiation Stances

Senior American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "lasting security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a major demand made by Kyiv.

Witkoff noted the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends permanently."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the talks.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "major progress" at the negotiations.

He added that "strong" security guarantees for Kyiv had been reached in the event of a possible ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they led to the end of the war.

Last week, the Ukrainian leader said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Settling the outstanding 10% would "decide the fate of peace, the future of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
• The Russian President has often said that Ukraine's forces must retreat from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any concession over how to conclude the war.
• Zelensky has thus far rejected giving up any land, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia follows suit.

Russian forces presently holds approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The areas form the area of the Donbas.

The initial US-led multi-point proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.

This led to a period of high-level negotiations – with the involved parties trying to adjust the document.

Last month, The Ukrainian government submitted the US an new 20-point plan – as well as separate documents outlining prospective security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.