UK and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to Ukraine if a Peace Agreement is Finalized
The London and Paris have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of military forces in the nation in the event a ceasefire be concluded with Moscow, the British leader, Keir Starmer, has declared.
Following talks with allied nations in Paris, he indicated that the allies would "establish operational bases in various parts of Ukraine and build fortified structures for arms and military equipment" to prevent any potential incursion.
The allied nations also put forward that the United States would assume leadership in overseeing a halt in hostilities.
Russia has consistently cautioned that any external forces in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has so far not issued a statement on this latest development.
Background and Continuing Conflict
Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces at this time occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's sovereign soil.
"This represents an essential component of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked the British leader.
National leaders and high-ranking officials from the "Allied Coalition" were involved in the Paris negotiations.
Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukraine's territory, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."
The UK prime minister also stated that London would participate in any US-led monitoring of a potential cessation of hostilities.
Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions
Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff said that "long-term safety pledges and substantial reconstruction vows are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine – mentioning a major requirement made by the Ukrainian government.
He said the partner nations had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such assurances "to ensure the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends forever."
The former US envoy, US President Donald Trump's representative, also was involved in the discussions.
Meanwhile, President Macron Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "significant advances" at the talks.
He said that "robust" safety pledges for Kyiv had been settled upon in the instance of a possible ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in Paris, but added that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they led to the conclusion of the war.
Recently, the Ukrainian leader said a peace deal was "90% ready". Settling the last 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".
Unresolved Issues
- Territory and defense assurances have been at the heart of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
- Moscow has often said that Kyiv's military must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
- Zelensky has to date excluded ceding any territory, but has floated the idea that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point – but only if Russia follows suit.
Moscow presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk oblast and around 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the industrial region of Donbas.
The original US-led 28-point framework that was extensively reported to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Russia's direction.
This sparked weeks of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the draft.
Recently, Ukraine submitted the US an revised framework – as well as separate documents detailing potential defense assurances and plans for Ukraine's recovery, Zelensky stated.