UK and France plan troop deployment in Ukraine after deal
07th Jan. 2026
The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent that outlines the plans to deploy troops in Ukraine if a peace deal is agreed with Russia. The announcement was made by the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer after the high-level talks in Paris. The move is aimed to deter any future Russian invasion. It marks a significant step by the European allies as negotiations over ending the war entered in a critical phase.
Speaking in the joint conference “Coalition of the Willing”, Starmer said that the agreement would allow UK and France, the partner nations to operate legally on Ukrainian soil in the event of a ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron also later confirmed that thousands of troops can be deployed under this plan, although no timeline was provided.
However, Russia has repeatedly warned that any foreign forces in Ukraine would be considered as a “legitimate target”. On the same side, Moscow has so far remained silent on the latest announcements made in the French capital.
Ukraine’s Security was guaranteed but territory remains unresolved
At the core of the Paris talks, was the question of long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. According to Starmer, the declaration “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”.
Importantly, both allies also broadly agreed that the United States would take the lead in monitoring any future truce. Starmer confirmed that London would participate in any US-led verification mechanism that is designed to ensure compliance with a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, senior US figures underlined Washington’s expectations. Top negotiator Steve Witkoff said that “durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace”, while echoing Kyiv’s long-standing demands. He added that allies had “largely finished” agreeing on security protocols so Ukrainians could be confident that the war would not resume once it ended.
Similarly, Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, stressed that Ukrainians needed to know “real backstops” were in place to ensure the conflict would “not happen again”. Nevertheless, despite progress on security arrangements, the most contentious issue still remains, the territory. There were few details on where a future ceasefire line might be drawn. After loosing 20% of it’s territory to Russian control, Ukraine might be forced to concede.
Zelensky welcomes progress but warns that peace is not guaranteed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the Paris meeting as a “huge step forward”, although he cautioned that the process would only be successful if it ultimately brought the war to an end. French President Macron also said that “considerable progress” had been made. He also noted that “robust” security guarantees had been agreed in principle.
Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian territory, which includes most of the eastern Donbas region. In addition, it also occupies roughly 75% of Donetsk and nearly all of neighboring Luhansk. President Vladimir Putin has insisted that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the entire Donbas. He also rejected any compromise over Russia’s territorial gains.
By contrast, Zelensky has so far ruled out formally ceding land. However, he has suggested that Ukrainian troops could withdraw to an agreed line, but only if Russian forces did the same. As winter conditions worsen, the pressure on Kyiv is intensifying. Continued fighting would mean another costly and attritional season of warfare, with Ukraine likely to bear the heaviest human and economic toll. For that reason, Zelensky hopes that US monitoring, a multinational force on Ukrainian soil, and increased weapons support will persuade a skeptical public that pursuing peace is the right course.
Even so, Zelensky acknowledged that Tuesday’s developments did not guarantee an end to the conflict. Any breakthrough still requires Russian cooperation, and Moscow has been notably quiet as diplomatic efforts accelerate.
Last week, Zelensky said a peace deal was “90% ready”, and added that the remaining 10% would “determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe”. With territory and security guarantees still unresolved, negotiators face a narrow and uncertain path toward ending Europe’s most devastating conflict in decades.
Web Resources on the Paris talks between UK, France, and Ukraine
1. CNN.com: UK and France agree to send troops to Ukraine
2. ABC.com: France and UK commit to deploying troops to Ukraine
3. AcademicBlock.com: Moscow Talks End Without Progress on Ukraine Peace Deal
4. BBC.com: Zelensky says peace deal is 90% ready in New Year address
5. AcademicBlock.com: Ukraine locked deal with France to get 100 Rafale Jets