UK and France to Deploy Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Agreement is Finalized
The British and French governments have inked a memorandum of understanding concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine in the event a peace agreement be made with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has declared.
After talks with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he indicated that the UK and France would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and build protected installations for weapons and defense matériel" to deter any potential invasion.
The coalition members also put forward that the America would play the primary role in verifying a ceasefire.
Moscow has repeatedly cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "valid objective", but has so far not commented on this recent announcement.
Background and Ongoing War
The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
"This constitutes a crucial element of our pledge to support Ukraine for the duration," commented the UK Prime Minister.
Top officials and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the recent discussions.
Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, he noted: "It paves the way for the operational parameters under which allied and coalition forces could work on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and restoring Ukraine's armed forces for the future."
The UK prime minister also stated that Britain would take part in any US-led confirmation of a possible truce.
Defense Assurances and Negotiation Stances
Top American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "lasting safety pledges and strong reconstruction vows are essential to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a central requirement made by the Ukrainian government.
The negotiator indicated the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on establishing such pledges "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."
Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's advisor, also participated in the talks.
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant progress" at the negotiations.
He said that "robust" safety pledges for Kyiv had been settled upon in the instance of a possible truce.
Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that a "significant development" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.
Earlier, he said a peace deal was "largely prepared". Finalizing the last 10% would "shape the outcome of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".
Unresolved Issues
- Sovereign soil and security guarantees have been at the heart of ongoing disputes for negotiators.
- Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must pull back from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to finish the war.
- Zelensky has thus far excluded ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could move its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia follows suit.
Russia currently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The two regions form the area of Donbas.
The earlier US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being disproportionately favorable in Moscow's direction.
This led to a period of high-level diplomacy – with all sides trying to adjust the document.
Last month, The Ukrainian government presented the US an revised framework – as well as distinct documents detailing potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's rebuilding, Zelensky stated.
