The UK and France have agreed in principle to deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached with Russia, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said after talks in Paris.
Starmer announced that a “declaration of intent” signed with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would pave the way for a legal framework allowing British, French and other partner forces to operate on Ukrainian soil after a ceasefire.
The aim, he said, is to help guarantee Ukraine’s security and prevent future Russian aggression.
Under the plan, the UK and France would establish military hubs across Ukraine and build protected facilities to store weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine’s defensive needs. The initiative forms part of discussions by more than 30 countries under the so-called “Coalition of the Willing”.
President Zelensky described the agreement as a huge step forward, but stressed that more work is needed before any security arrangements are finalised and that true success would only come when the war ends.
The proposal would be European-led, with possible support from non-European partners and backing from the United States. US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington strongly supports durable security guarantees for Ukraine, though he suggested discussions were moving toward economic issues alongside security.
While leaders described the talks as significant progress, officials cautioned that key details still need to be agreed. Russia has previously said it would not accept European troops on Ukrainian territory, highlighting the challenges ahead despite the diplomatic momentum.
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