The Declaration in Paris sets out plans for UK and French forces to operate in Ukraine after the peace

Britain and France have confirmed they would deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached with Russia, a move that signals a major step in European planning for the war’s aftermath.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement following talks in Paris with Ukrainian allies from more than 30 countries. Speaking after the meeting, he said a declaration of intent signed by the UK and France creates a pathway for British, French and partner forces to operate on Ukrainian soil once hostilities end.

Starmer said the declaration establishes the basis for a legal framework that would allow allied forces to support Ukraine following a ceasefire. He stressed that any deployment would take place only in the event of a peace deal and would focus on long-term security rather than active combat.

Under the plans outlined in Paris, the UK and France would establish military hubs across Ukraine after a ceasefire. These hubs would include protected facilities designed to store weapons and military equipment, aimed at supporting Ukraine’s defensive needs and rebuilding its armed forces.

A statement issued by the so-called Coalition of the Willing committed participating nations to forming a multinational force for Ukraine if peace is secured. The force would be led by European countries, involve willing non-European partners, and operate with proposed support from the United States.

Ukraine’s president welcomed the declaration, describing it as a huge step forward. However, he cautioned that the plans would only become meaningful once the war had fully ended. He said further work was needed before security protocols could be finalised.

US representatives attending the talks described the meeting as a significant milestone. Jared Kushner said the progress made in Paris created real backstops designed to prevent another Russian invasion. He emphasised that while peace was not guaranteed, it would not be possible without the commitments discussed.

Another US envoy said durable security guarantees would be essential to a lasting settlement. He suggested that discussions on security arrangements were close to completion, while negotiations over territorial issues remained unresolved and would require further dialogue.

Germany also signalled conditional support. The German chancellor said his country could have a presence in a neighbouring Nato area if a peace agreement were reached, while acknowledging that compromises would be necessary to bring the conflict to an end.

Despite the strong language from Western leaders, uncertainty remains over how the plans would be received by Moscow. Russia has previously stated it would not accept European troops on the ground in Ukraine, raising questions about the feasibility of a multinational deployment.

Observers have urged caution, noting that while the declaration represents progress, many details have yet to be settled. These include the size of any force, its mandate, and the conditions under which it would operate.

Nevertheless, the presence of US officials at the Paris talks was widely seen as a symbolic signal of support for the initiative. While the declaration stops short of a binding agreement, it marks one of the clearest indications yet that European nations are preparing for a future in which their troops could be stationed in Ukraine to help secure peace.