Britain and France have declared they are ready to deploy troops to Ukraine following a ceasefire, marking a significant new commitment. The announcement came after a summit in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, attended by leaders from the “coalition of the willing” of Ukrainian allies, along with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a trilateral declaration of intent on Tuesday evening. Starmer stated that after a ceasefire, the UK and France would establish military hubs across Ukraine. However, Macron clarified that the force would be stationed “a long way behind the contact line” and would not directly engage Russian forces if Moscow relaunched an invasion.
The coalition also drew up plans for ceasefire monitoring under American leadership and long-term support for Ukrainian armed forces. Witkoff described the US security guarantees as “as strong as anyone has ever seen,” intended to deter further attacks, and insisted President Trump stands behind the commitments.
Territory remains a sticking point in peace talks, with Zelenskyy acknowledging challenges. Witkoff agreed territory is a critical issue. Meanwhile, Russia has categorically opposed any Nato troops on Ukrainian soil and shows little sign of readiness for a deal.
Starmer acknowledged the difficulty, saying, “We are closer to peace than ever but of course the hardest yards are still ahead.” He added that Putin has not shown he is ready for peace, underscoring the uncertain prospects for a quick resolution.
