The United Kingdom and France have signed a declaration of intent to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, Downing Street has confirmed. The announcement follows a summit in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, attended by more than two dozen leaders from the 'coalition of the willing' of Ukrainian allies, as well as US envoy Steve Witkoff.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the 'Multinational Force for Ukraine' would act as a reassurance force to bolster security guarantees and support the regeneration of Ukraine's own forces. 'This is a vital part of our iron cast commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long term,' a Downing Street statement read.
The trilateral declaration, signed by Macron, Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, paves the way for a legal framework for French and UK forces to operate on Ukrainian soil. Post-ceasefire, the UK and France will establish 'military hubs' across Ukraine to enable deployment and build protected facilities for weapons and equipment.
US envoy Steve Witkoff reaffirmed President Trump's commitment to peace, stating, 'We are determined on his behalf to do everything possible to obtain that peace.' He added that a robust prosperity agreement was nearly finalised.
Zelenskyy described the declaration as 'substantive' with 'concrete content', not just words. The move marks a major new commitment, though Russia is likely to block it forcefully.
