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UK and France Pledge to Station Troops in Ukraine if Peace Deal Agreed
Is this a sign of progress towards the war's end, or is Russia likely to just block the security agreements?
Above: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer at the Élysée Palace, France, on Jan. 6. Image credit: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Thanks to the work of Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the U.S. signed a five-point plan with European leaders that will enhance Ukraine's security should it reach a peace deal with Russia. It will include U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring and a verification mechanism that would address any breaches, attribute responsibility and determine remedies. This will be a huge win for Trump and the U.S. if it succeeds.
Pro-Europe narrative
Standing side by side with American allies, the U.K. and France, alongside other "Coalition of the Willing" partners, have laid the legal groundwork to station troops in Ukraine, allowing it to remain sovereign and secure for the long term, once a peace deal is reached. This is part of the countries' iron-clad commitment to stand with Ukraine.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Ukraine thanks all the nations that participated in the drafting of the security guarantees. This is no longer just rhetoric but includes substantial agreements with concrete progress for Ukraine, making sure it will not endure Russian aggression again. Now it's time to reach a peace deal — though Putin shows an unwillingness to compromise and reach a deal.
Pro-establishment narrative
On paper, this is a coup for Ukraine and European partners: a multinational force with the backing of U.S. However, beneath the surface, European leaders are concerned how much they can trust the Trump administration to back them up, especially in light of its threats to acquire Greenland, the Danish territory, even though the country is a NATO member.
Cynical narrative
While the Trump administration has repeatedly promised that a peace deal is closer than ever — and this occasion is no exception — the hard reality is that Russia has been categorical in its rejection of NATO troops in Ukraine. It has also not shown any interest in compromising on territory so all this talk of post-war security arrangements could be a wasted exercise that never comes to fruition.