Ukraine, France and UK ink pact on deployment of forces after peace deal

PARIS — Ukraine, France and the United Kingdom on Tuesday signed a Declaration of Intent on the deployment of multinational forces to support Ukraine's defense, reconstruction, and strategic resilience after a peace agreement is achieved, the Ukrinform news agency reported.

The document was signed in Paris by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Following the meeting, Zelensky noted that there is already a detailed understanding of the architecture of security guarantees for Ukraine.

Macron said that could involve sending thousands of French troops.

"It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future," Starmer said.

The signing followed a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which brought together leaders of several European countries, as well as White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Witkoff, who has led talks with Russia, said after the summit that Trump "strongly stands behind security protocols".

"Those security protocols are meant to … deter any attacks, any further attacks in Ukraine, and …if there are any attacks, they're meant to defend, and they will do both. They are as strong as anyone has ever seen," he said at a joint news conference with the French, German, British and Ukrainian leaders.

A statement by the coalition leaders also said that allies will participate in a proposed US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism. Officials have said this would likely involve drones, sensors and satellites, not US troops.

Zelensky, writing on Telegram after the meeting, said the agreements were "a signal of how seriously Europe and the entire Coalition of the Willing are ready to work for real security".

But he added that it remained to be determined how the monitoring would work and how the Ukrainian army would be supported and financed.

Talks to continue

He thanked the United States "for its readiness to be a backstop in all areas — security guarantees, monitoring a ceasefire and rebuilding".

He said the Ukrainian delegation would continue its talks on key issues on Wednesday.

European officials hailed the involvement of US envoys and their strong comments as evidence that Washington stood behind the security framework.

Talks to bring the almost four-year conflict to an end have accelerated since November.

Moscow has also given no public sign that it would accept a peace deal with the security guarantees envisioned by Ukraine's allies. Russia has previously rejected any NATO members having troops inside Ukraine.

Until recently, much of the allies' focus was on pledges of military aid for Ukraine's forces and possible contributions to an "international reassurance force".

But attention has now shifted to legally binding guarantees to come to Kyiv's aid in the event of another attack by Moscow. The possibility of a military response is likely to trigger debate in many European countries, diplomats say.

"These commitments may include the use of military capabilities, intelligence and logistical support, diplomatic initiatives, adoption of additional sanctions," the leaders' statement said, adding that they would now "finalize binding commitments".

Agencies - Xinhua