The UK, France, and European allies have agreed to send an international force to help protect Ukraine if a peace agreement is successfully reached.
On Tuesday, 6 Jan 2026 GMT+7, key allies of Ukraine in Europe and Canada agreed to provide international defense guarantees at multiple levels to Ukraine, as part of a proposal to end Russia's nearly four-year-long invasion.
At a meeting in Paris, leaders from European countries and Canada, along with representatives from the US and senior officials from the European Union and NATO, announced plans to supply equipment and training to frontline Ukrainian soldiers, as well as provide air, land, and sea support to deter potential future Russian attacks.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the meeting made excellent progress, with the signing of a “declaration of intent” regarding the deployment of military forces in Ukraine should a peace agreement be reached.
“This is a crucial part of our ironclad commitment to stand alongside Ukraine for the long term,” Starmer said. “This will pave the way for a legal framework allowing forces from the UK, France, and allies to operate on Ukrainian soil to secure its skies and waters and to rebuild Ukraine’s military for the future.”
Additionally, the allied group will participate in a US-led ceasefire monitoring and verification process, support long-term supply of arms and military equipment for Ukraine’s defense, and jointly establish binding agreements to support Ukraine in case of future Russian attacks.
However, Sir Starmer warned that the toughest challenges still lie ahead, as Russian attacks on Ukraine continue.
Russian officials have not yet commented on the latest developments. Previously, the Kremlin reiterated Russia’s demands and insisted there will be no ceasefire until a comprehensive agreement is reached, while President Vladimir Putin firmly rejects any NATO military deployment on Ukrainian soil.
The UK leader added that peace can only be achieved if Russia compromises, and “Putin has yet to show he is ready for peace.”
In the event of a ceasefire, he stated the UK and France “will establish military hubs across Ukraine’s regions to facilitate troop deployments and build secure storage facilities for weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine’s defense needs.”
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