Britain and France Plan to Send Military Personnel to the Country if a Peace Deal is Agreed
The London and Paris have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the positioning of armed personnel in the nation should a peace agreement be struck with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has stated.
After negotiations with allied nations in the French capital, he noted that the two nations would "set up military hubs throughout Ukraine and build fortified structures for arms and military equipment" to discourage any potential incursion.
The partner countries also proposed that the America would play the primary role in overseeing a halt in hostilities.
The Kremlin has consistently cautioned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "legitimate target", but has as yet not commented on this recent declaration.
Background and Ongoing War
Russian President Vladimir Putin began a comprehensive attack of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia presently holds approximately 20% of the country's land.
"This is a vital part of our pledge to stand with Ukraine for the duration," stated the UK Prime Minister.
Heads of state and high-ranking officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in the recent discussions.
Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, the Prime Minister noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on the ground in Ukraine, securing Ukraine's airspace and waters, and rebuilding Ukraine's defense capabilities for the years ahead."
The British leader went on to say that London would be involved in any US-led verification of a possible cessation of hostilities.
Security Guarantees and Diplomatic Positions
Top Washington representative Steve Witkoff stated that "durable security guarantees and strong prosperity commitments are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a key condition made by the Ukrainian government.
Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on finalizing such guarantees "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this hostilities ends, it ends for good."
The former US envoy, ex-President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the negotiations.
Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that Ukraine's supporters had made "significant headway" at the talks.
He noted that "strong" safety pledges for the Ukrainian government had been agreed in the case of a prospective ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "major advance" had been made in the negotiations, but cautioned that he would only deem efforts to be "enough" if they resulted in the cessation of the fighting.
Earlier, the Ukrainian leader suggested a peace agreement was "mostly finalized". Settling the outstanding 10% would "determine the future of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".
Unresolved Issues
- Territory and security guarantees have been at the center of unresolved issues for diplomats.
- Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must retreat from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will take control, refusing any middle ground over how to finish the war.
- The Ukrainian President has so far ruled out giving up any land, but has proposed that Ukraine could withdraw its forces to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia does the same.
Russia presently holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. The pair of oblasts form the area of Donbas.
The original US-led multi-point proposal that was extensively reported to the media last year was perceived by Kyiv and its partners in Europe as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.
This triggered a period of intensive discussions – with all sides trying to revise the document.
Recently, The Ukrainian government presented the US an updated framework – as well as additional documents detailing potential defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.
