Britain and France have said they are prepared to send troops to Ukraine after a peace agreement is agreed, marking a significant step that has been discussed for months but is expected to face strong opposition from Russia and in practice rendering the move virtually meaningless.
The Anglo-French agreement followed a Paris summit hosted by Emmanuel Macron, where leaders from more than two dozen allied countries met alongside US representatives, who said Washington firmly supports the proposed security arrangements.
Macron, UK prime minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a joint declaration stating that British and French forces could be deployed to help stabilise Ukraine after a ceasefire.
The planned force would not be intended to fight Russian troops, with Macron stressing it would operate far from the front lines and serve mainly as a reassurance presence, although details about its size and role remain unclear. US envoy Steve Witkoff said American security guarantees were designed to deter further attacks and insisted the US would stand by its commitments to Ukraine and a peace deal.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts on the part of western governments, major obstacles remain, including disagreements over territory, Russian opposition to Nato forces in Ukraine, and doubts about whether Moscow is ready to compromise.
Mertz, Starmer, Zelensky and Macron at a previous meeting
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