Britain and France have reached an agreement in principle to send troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement with Russia is secured, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Speaking after high-level talks with Ukraine’s allies in Paris, Starmer confirmed the two countries had signed a declaration outlining plans to establish military coordination hubs across Ukraine. The aim, he said, would be to help prevent any future Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron later indicated that the deployment could involve several thousand troops.
Western allies also broadly backed the idea of strong security assurances for Kyiv and suggested the United States would play a central role in overseeing any ceasefire. However, discussions over Ukraine’s occupied territory remain unresolved.
Russia has repeatedly warned that the presence of foreign forces in Ukraine would be considered a legitimate military target. Moscow has yet to respond publicly to the announcements made in Paris.
President Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, and Russian forces currently occupy around one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
Coalition outlines post-war security role
Leaders from the so-called “Coalition of the Willing”, a group of Ukraine’s closest international backers, attended Tuesday’s meeting in the French capital.
At a joint press conference, Starmer said the declaration marked a significant step towards formalising how allied forces could operate in Ukraine after a peace agreement.
He said the framework would allow British, French and partner troops to support Ukrainian air and maritime security while helping rebuild and modernise Ukraine’s armed forces.
Starmer also confirmed that the UK would take part in any US-led mechanism designed to verify compliance with a future ceasefire.
US negotiator Steve Witkoff said allies were close to finalising security arrangements intended to ensure the conflict does not reignite once fighting stops. He said these guarantees were essential to provide Ukrainians with confidence that peace would be lasting.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Jared Kushner, echoed those comments, saying Ukraine would need credible safeguards in place to prevent another invasion.
Zelensky cautious but optimistic
President Macron described the Paris talks as having delivered “substantial progress”, saying partners had agreed on firm security commitments should a ceasefire be reached.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the outcome as a major diplomatic advance but stressed that success would ultimately depend on ending the war itself.
While Western officials referred to “security guarantees” and “security protocols,” the exact obligations, particularly how the US might respond to a future Russian attack — remain open to interpretation. Nevertheless, Zelensky appears to believe Washington has made an important concession.
There were few new details about where any ceasefire line might be drawn or what territory Ukraine could be asked to relinquish, a sensitive issue as Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure continue.
With winter approaching, Zelensky faces the prospect of another gruelling season of fighting if talks fail. He is likely hoping that international monitoring, foreign troops on Ukrainian soil and increased military support will persuade a wary Ukrainian public that pursuing peace is the best option.
However, he acknowledged that Tuesday’s meeting did not guarantee an end to the conflict, noting that Russian cooperation remains essential. Moscow has remained notably quiet about current diplomatic efforts.
Putin has long opposed the idea of European-led forces operating in contested areas and may be reluctant to halt Russia’s gradual advances without securing key war aims.
Territory remains the hardest issue
Pressure is growing on both sides to compromise, but major obstacles remain. Zelensky said last week that a peace deal was “90% ready,” with the final unresolved elements likely to shape Ukraine’s future, and Europe’s.
Territorial control and security commitments remain the most contentious issues. Putin has demanded that Ukrainian forces withdraw entirely from the eastern Donbas region, warning Russia would seize the territory outright if this does not happen.
While Zelensky has ruled out formally surrendering land, he has suggested Ukraine could pull back to agreed positions if Russian forces do the same.
Russia currently controls most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which together form the industrial heartland of eastern Ukraine.
A leaked US-led peace proposal last year was widely criticised in Kyiv and European capitals for favouring Moscow. That prompted weeks of intense negotiations to reshape the plan.
Zelensky said Ukraine has since submitted revised proposals to Washington, including updated peace terms, security guarantees and reconstruction plans, signalling that diplomacy, while fragile, is still moving forward.
