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UK and France sign declaration on troop deployment
Britain and France have agreed to station military personnel in Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached with Russia, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday following talks in Paris. The move aims to deter future Russian aggression and support Ukraine's long-term security.
Military hubs and security guarantees
Starmer revealed that the two nations signed a declaration of intent to establish "military hubs" across Ukraine to secure its airspace and territorial waters, as well as rebuild its armed forces. French President Emmanuel Macron later suggested that thousands of troops could be deployed as part of the arrangement.
Allies also reached broad consensus on robust security guarantees for Ukraine, with the US expected to lead ceasefire monitoring efforts. However, the critical issue of territorial concessions remains unresolved.
Russia warns of retaliation
The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that any foreign troops stationed in Ukraine would be considered "legitimate targets." Moscow has yet to respond to the latest announcements from Paris.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Moscow has occupied roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including large swaths of the eastern Donbas region.
Allies push for lasting peace
Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer emphasized that the agreement lays the legal groundwork for British, French, and allied forces to operate in Ukraine post-conflict. He also confirmed the UK's participation in a US-led verification mechanism for any potential truce.
"Durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace,"
Steve Witkoff, US negotiator
Witkoff added that allies had "largely finished" drafting security protocols to ensure the war "ends forever." Jared Kushner, special envoy for US President Donald Trump, echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for "real backstops" to prevent future conflict.
Zelensky hails progress but seeks more
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the Paris talks as a "huge step forward" but cautioned that efforts would only be sufficient if they led to the war's end. While security guarantees were a major focus, the thorny question of territorial boundaries remains unanswered.
Many Ukrainians remain deeply opposed to ceding any land, particularly as Russian forces continue daily strikes on cities and critical infrastructure. With winter setting in, Zelensky faces pressure to secure a ceasefire to avoid another grueling season of attritional warfare.
Territorial disputes persist
Russia currently controls about 75% of Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk-two regions that form the industrial heartland of Donbas. Putin has insisted that Ukrainian forces withdraw entirely from these areas, while Zelensky has ruled out territorial concessions but suggested mutual troop withdrawals to agreed lines.
Last month, Kyiv submitted a revised 20-point peace plan to the US, alongside proposals for security guarantees and postwar reconstruction. Earlier drafts, perceived as favoring Russia, had sparked intense diplomatic efforts to amend the terms.
Uncertain path forward
Despite the progress in Paris, Zelensky acknowledged that Tuesday's "milestone" did not guarantee peace. Russian cooperation remains essential, and Moscow has remained silent on recent diplomatic overtures.
Putin has previously rejected the idea of a European-led international force in contested areas and is unlikely to halt military advances unless his objectives are met. However, mounting pressure on both sides may force compromises to end the nearly two-year conflict.
