Britain and France have signed a declaration that they will deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is signed with Russia, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said.
He said after talks with Ukraine’s allies in Paris that Britain and France would “establish military hubs across Ukraine and build facilities to protect weapons and military equipment” to prevent a future invasion.
Allies also suggested that the United States take the lead in monitoring the ceasefire.
Russia has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops stationed in Ukraine would be a “legitimate target” but has yet to comment on the announcement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow now controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory.
Tuesday’s meeting in the French capital was attended by heads of state and senior officials of the ‘coalition of the willing’.
“We have signed a declaration that we will deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is signed,” Starmer said at a joint press conference after the meeting.
“This is an important part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long term.
“This paves the way for a legal framework that will allow British, French and partner forces to operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine’s skies and seas and rebuilding the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the future.”
The British prime minister added that London would participate in the US-led verification of the feasibility of a ceasefire.
Lead U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff cited Kiev’s core demands, saying Ukraine’s “continued security guarantees and unwavering commitment to prosperity are essential to lasting peace.”
Witkov said the allies had “mostly completed” the work of agreeing to such guarantees “so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war is over, it is over for good.”
Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy and son-in-law, also participated in the negotiations.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine’s allies had made “significant progress” in talks.
He said “robust” security guarantees for Kiev had been agreed in the event of a possible ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “big progress” had been made in Paris, but added that he would consider the efforts “sufficient” only if they ended the war.
Last week, Prime Minister Zelenskyy said the peace deal was “90% ready.” Agreement on the remaining 10% will “determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe.”
Territorial and security guarantees were at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
Putin has repeatedly warned that all Ukrainian forces must withdraw from Ukraine’s eastern Donbass or Russia will occupy them, and has rejected any compromise on how to end the war.
Zelenskiy has so far ruled out the possibility of ceding any territory, but has suggested Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point. But only if Russia does so.
Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and about 99% of the neighboring Luhansk region. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.
The original US-led 28-point peace plan, widely leaked to the media last year, was viewed by Kiev and its European allies as heavily biased in favor of Russia.
This set off weeks of intensive high-level diplomacy as Ukrainian, U.S. and European leaders sought to revise the draft.
Last month, Kiev sent the United States an updated 20-point plan and a separate document outlining potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine’s reconstruction, Zelenskyy said.
