🔗 Share this article Britain and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine if a Ceasefire Accord is Agreed The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated. Subsequent to discussions with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "set up operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and build protected installations for weapons and equipment" to prevent any potential incursion. The partner countries also suggested that the America would assume leadership in overseeing a truce. Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this new development. Context and Ongoing Conflict Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time occupies roughly 20% of the country's land. "This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister. National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions. Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer further said: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the future." The UK prime minister added that London would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a possible truce. Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by Ukraine. He said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such assurances "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good." Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the negotiations. At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable advances" at the meeting. He noted that "strong" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a potential truce. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge step forward" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the end of the war. Last week, Zelensky indicated a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe". Remaining Challenges Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for the parties involved. The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war. Zelensky has to date rejected surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same. Moscow presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas. The initial US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction. This led to weeks of focused negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal. The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents detailing prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he said.
The British and French governments have formalized a statement of purpose concerning the deployment of armed personnel in Ukraine should a peace agreement be concluded with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated. Subsequent to discussions with Ukraine's allies in the French capital, he indicated that the two nations would "set up operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and build protected installations for weapons and equipment" to prevent any potential incursion. The partner countries also suggested that the America would assume leadership in overseeing a truce. Moscow has on multiple occasions stated that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not responded on this new development. Context and Ongoing Conflict Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia at this time occupies roughly 20% of the country's land. "This represents an essential component of our commitment to support Ukraine for the foreseeable future," stated the UK Prime Minister. National leaders and senior officials from the "Partner Group" were involved in the recent discussions. Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer further said: "It establishes the framework for the legal framework under which allied and coalition forces could work on the ground in Ukraine, defending Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's military for the future." The UK prime minister added that London would be involved in any Washington-directed monitoring of a possible truce. Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "long-term defense assurances and robust reconstruction vows are critical to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – mentioning a major condition made by Ukraine. He said the partner nations had "substantially agreed on" their work on finalizing such assurances "in order that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good." Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's representative, also took part in the negotiations. At the same time, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "considerable advances" at the meeting. He noted that "strong" defense assurances for Kyiv had been agreed in the case of a potential truce. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge step forward" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they resulted in the end of the war. Last week, Zelensky indicated a settlement was "mostly finalized". Finalizing the outstanding 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe". Remaining Challenges Territory and defense assurances have been at the forefront of ongoing disputes for the parties involved. The Russian President has consistently stated that Ukraine's forces must pull back from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war. Zelensky has to date rejected surrendering any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an designated point – but only if Russia does the same. Moscow presently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of the Donbas. The initial US-led 28-point peace plan that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction. This led to weeks of focused negotiations – with Ukraine, the US and European leaders trying to adjust the proposal. The previous month, Kyiv sent the US an updated proposal – as well as separate documents detailing prospective defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's reconstruction, he said.