Deployment of troops in Ukraine: Details of the Macron-Starmer-Zelensky agreement

In a strategic move reflecting a significant shift in Western support for Kyiv, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a joint declaration of intent on Tuesday regarding the deployment of a multinational force to Ukraine. This agreement is contingent upon achieving a ceasefire, a scenario that remains the subject of complex diplomatic negotiations amidst ongoing military operations.

Details of the proposed force and its purpose

This announcement followed a high-level meeting of Kyiv's allies in Paris, aimed at presenting a united and firm European front against Moscow, particularly as the war nears its fourth year. French President Macron explained that this force, which has undergone extensive studies over the past months, is not intended to participate in the current direct fighting, but rather is designed to guarantee stability in the post-war phase.

Macron said in his remarks: "The main objective is to provide a tangible form of reassurance and deterrence in the days following the ceasefire," noting that the presence of international forces on the ground would represent a security barrier that would prevent a recurrence of aggression and ensure adherence to the terms of any future political settlement.

Zelensky: We have moved from words to real guarantees

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warmly welcomed the prepared documents, considering them a crucial step in securing Western security guarantees for his country. During the press conference, Zelenskyy emphasized that the Western alliance had moved beyond mere verbal promises.

The Ukrainian president stated, "What is important is that the alliance today has fundamental documents that go beyond mere diplomatic talk," praising what he described as "tangible content" that demonstrates a serious commitment to working for real and sustainable security for Ukraine, which Kyiv has been demanding since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Historical context and the shift in the European position

This announcement represents a radical shift in the security doctrine of major European countries regarding the war in Ukraine. Since the outbreak of the war, NATO countries, particularly France and Britain, have focused on providing military, logistical, and intelligence support, while avoiding any talk of deploying ground troops for fear of being drawn into a direct conflict with Russia that could lead to a third world war.

However, the protracted nature of the war and the depletion of resources, in addition to the need to provide strong security guarantees to encourage Ukraine to engage in future negotiations, prompted European leaders to adopt the option of "peacekeeping forces" or "deterrent forces" as part of future security arrangements, to ensure that the invasion scenario is not repeated once Russia reorganizes its ranks.

The American position and the thorny border issue

In a related development, US envoy Steve Wittkopf revealed, following talks in Paris, that significant progress had been made in drafting security protocols. Wittkopf confirmed that Kyiv's allies had largely finalized an agreement on the form of security guarantees Ukraine would receive once the war ended.

Witkov said, "We believe we have largely completed the security protocols, which are essential for the Ukrainian people to understand that this war will end for good and will not just be a temporary truce." However, the US official acknowledged that issues related to border demarcation and territorial control would be "the most problematic and sensitive areas" in the next phase of negotiations, expressing hope for realistic compromises on these matters.