UK and France sign declaration to send forces to Ukraine if peace deal is reached

Independent.co reports that the UK and France have signed a declaration of intent to send forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in Paris.

Starmer said the countries would "create military hubs in Ukraine" after a ceasefire and would establish protected facilities to support Ukraine's defensive needs, with the UK also participating in monitoring any ceasefire. The signing followed hours of talks by the Coalition of the Willing at the Elysee Palace, where US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met President Volodymyr Zelensky; President Emmanuel Macron said "significant progress" had been made and described the declaration as providing "strong" security guarantees.

Zelensky called the declaration "concrete" but said details of Coalition forces are still being worked out and that security guarantees must be grounded in law to be confirmed by Congress, adding that territory remains the main issue to resolve. Starmer warned "the hardest yards are still ahead," and EU Council President Antonio Costa said the EU is ready to support a peace deal with civilian and military missions on the ground.

Key Topics

World, France, Ukraine, Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky