The United Kingdom and France have signed a declaration of intent to deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement with Russia is reached, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced.
Following high-level talks in Paris with Ukraine’s allies, Starmer said the two countries would “establish military hubs across Ukraine” to deter future invasions. French President Emmanuel Macron later indicated that thousands of troops could be stationed in Ukraine as part of the effort.
Allies broadly agreed on the need for robust security guarantees for Ukraine and proposed that the United States would lead efforts to monitor any truce. However, the critical issue of territorial concessions remains under discussion.
Russia has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops operating on Ukrainian soil would be considered a “legitimate target.” Moscow has yet to issue a formal response to the announcements made in Paris.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russian forces currently control roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Heads of state and senior officials from the “Coalition of the Willing” participated in Tuesday’s talks in the French capital.
Speaking at a joint press conference following the meeting, Starmer said: “We signed a declaration of intent on the deployment of forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. This is a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long term. It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine’s skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine’s armed forces for the future.”
The UK prime minister added that London would participate in any US-led verification of a potential ceasefire.
Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff emphasized that “durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace” in Ukraine, highlighting a key demand of Kyiv. He said the allies had “largely finished” agreeing on security protocols “so that the people of Ukraine know that when this [war] ends, it ends forever.”
Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy and son-in-law, said that after a peace deal, Ukrainians must be confident that “real backstops” would be in place to ensure war would “not happen again.”
Meanwhile, Macron described the talks as yielding “considerable progress,” noting that Ukraine’s allies had agreed on “robust” security guarantees in the event of a potential ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the meeting a “huge step forward,” but stressed that he would only consider progress sufficient if it led to the end of the war. What Ukraine defines as security “guarantees” and what American officials describe as security “protocols” may leave some discretion for Washington in defending Kyiv in the event of future Russian aggression. Nevertheless, Zelensky believes he and his European allies have secured an important concession from the United States.
Few, if any, new details were disclosed regarding the delineation of a future ceasefire line or which territories currently under Russian control Ukraine might agree to relinquish. This remains a sensitive subject, as many Ukrainians would find territorial concessions unacceptable while Russia continues to strike cities and critical infrastructure across the country.
As winter sets in, Zelensky faces the stark reality that rejecting a ceasefire could lead to another brutal, attritional winter of warfare, with inevitable losses far heavier for Ukraine than for Russia. The president hopes that assurances of American monitoring, a multinational force on Ukrainian soil, and continued military support will persuade a sometimes-skeptical population that pursuing peace is the right path, bolstered by a growing international coalition.
At the conclusion of Tuesday’s press conference, Zelensky acknowledged that this “milestone” does not guarantee peace. Real progress requires Russian cooperation, and Moscow has remained largely silent in recent days regarding diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Putin has consistently opposed the deployment of a European-led international force in disputed regions and is unlikely to halt his troops’ advance if his war objectives remain unmet. However, pressure is mounting on both sides to negotiate and reach compromises.
Last week, Zelensky stated that a peace deal was “90% ready,” emphasizing that the remaining 10% would “determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe.” Territory and security guarantees remain at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.
Putin has insisted that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from all of eastern Donbas, warning that Russia would seize the region if no compromise is reached. Zelensky has rejected ceding territory but has suggested that Ukrainian troops could withdraw to an agreed-upon line, provided Russia does the same.
Currently, Moscow controls approximately 75% of Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk, both of which make up Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region.
The original 28-point US-led peace plan, leaked last year, was seen by Kyiv and its European allies as heavily favoring Russia. This prompted weeks of intensive diplomacy, as Ukraine, the US, and European leaders sought to revise the draft.
Last month, Kyiv submitted an updated 20-point plan to Washington, along with separate documents outlining potential security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine’s reconstruction, according to Zelensky.
