The British and French governments have signed a statement of purpose concerning the positioning of armed personnel in Ukraine should a ceasefire be concluded with Russia, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has declared.
After negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he said that the two nations would "establish military hubs throughout Ukraine and build protected structures for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any subsequent incursion.
The partner countries also proposed that the America would assume leadership in verifying a truce.
Moscow has on multiple occasions warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet commented on this new announcement.
Moscow's leader Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the start of last year, and Russian forces currently holds roughly 20% of the country's land.
"This represents an essential component of our pledge to be alongside Ukraine for the foreseeable future," remarked Starmer.
National leaders and top officials from the "Allied Coalition" took part in the Paris negotiations.
Addressing reporters at a shared media briefing, Starmer noted: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French, and partner forces could function on Ukrainian soil, protecting Ukraine's skies and seas, and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces for the years ahead."
The British leader also stated that London would participate in any US-led verification of a possible truce.
Lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff remarked that "durable safety pledges and substantial economic promises are vital to a permanent resolution" in Ukraine – alluding to a key demand made by the Ukrainian government.
The negotiator said the coalition had "substantially agreed on" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the people of Ukraine know that when this conflict ends, it ends permanently."
Jared Kushner, former American President Donald Trump's special envoy, also participated in the talks.
Separately, President Macron Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine's partners had made "major headway" at the meeting.
He noted that "comprehensive" safety pledges for Ukraine had been agreed in the event of a prospective ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that a "major advance" had been made in the talks, but qualified that he would only view efforts to be "sufficient" if they led to the conclusion of the fighting.
Last week, Zelensky suggested a settlement was "largely prepared". Finalizing the remaining 10% would "determine the fate of the agreement, the future of Ukraine and Europe".
Russia currently occupies about 75% of the Donetsk region and some 99% of the bordering Luhansk. The areas form the heartland of the Donbas.
The initial US-led 28-point proposal that was circulated to the media last year was viewed by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being strongly biased in Moscow's direction.
This led to a period of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to adjust the document.
Recently, Kyiv submitted the US an new proposal – as well as distinct documents detailing possible defense assurances and provisions for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.
