The United Kingdom and France Plan to Send Forces to Ukraine in the event that a Peace Deal is Finalized
The UK and France have inked a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of troops in Ukraine should a peace agreement be struck with Russia, the Prime Minister of Britain, Starmer, has announced.
After discussions with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the two nations would "create defense centers throughout Ukraine and build protected facilities for arms and defense matériel" to discourage any subsequent attack.
The partner countries also proposed that the US would play the primary role in monitoring a ceasefire.
The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has so far not responded on this new development.
Background and Continuing War
The Kremlin's head Vladimir Putin initiated a major offensive of Ukraine in early 2022, and Russia presently holds about 20% of the country's land.
"This represents an essential component of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the duration," remarked the British leader.
Top officials and top officials from the "Partner Group" participated in the Paris negotiations.
Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, he further said: "It establishes the framework for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could function on the ground in Ukraine, protecting Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and rebuilding Ukraine's military for the future."
The British leader added that Britain would take part in any Washington-directed confirmation of a possible truce.
Security Guarantees and Negotiation Stances
Lead Washington representative Steve Witkoff remarked that "long-term security guarantees and substantial economic promises are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – referring to a key condition made by the Ukrainian government.
The negotiator noted the coalition had "largely finished" their work on finalizing such pledges "to ensure the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends for good."
Jared Kushner, ex-President Donald Trump's special envoy, also was involved in the talks.
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's partners had made "major progress" at the negotiations.
He added that "comprehensive" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been reached in the instance of a prospective truce.
President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "significant step forward" had been made in Paris, but cautioned that he would only view efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the conclusion of the war.
Earlier, the Ukrainian leader indicated a settlement was "mostly finalized". Settling the remaining 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".
Unresolved Issues
- Sovereign soil and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for negotiators.
- Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will occupy it, refusing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
- Kyiv has so far rejected surrendering any territory, but has proposed that Ukraine could pull back its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.
Russian forces presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk oblast and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the heartland of the Donbas.
The initial US-led 28-point framework that was widely leaked to the media last year was viewed by Kyiv and its European allies as being strongly biased in Moscow's favor.
This triggered a period of intensive negotiations – with all sides trying to revise the document.
The previous month, The Ukrainian government sent the US an new proposal – as well as separate documents detailing potential security guarantees and plans for Ukraine's rebuilding, he said.