Britain and France have committed to deploying troops to Ukraine as part of a multinational force once a peace deal with Russia is reached, following talks in Paris between representatives of Ukraine, its European allies, and the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the parties had made “significant progress,” announcing what he described as the Paris Declaration on security guarantees. According to Macron, the declaration sets out concrete components intended to preserve a prolonged peace.
“Today, we have made significant progress, reflected in the Paris Declaration, which provides reliable guarantees for a lasting peace,” Macron said. “This statement by the coalition of the willing recognizes for the first time the rapid rapprochement between the 35 countries that make up the coalition of the willing, Ukraine, and the United States. We are talking about reliable security guarantees.”
According to Macron, the declaration identifies several core elements. These include participation in a U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, designed to operate continuously with contributions from coalition members. The mechanism would include a special commission tasked with addressing breaches, attributing responsibility, and determining appropriate penalties for infringements.
The declaration also commits coalition members to continued long-term military assistance for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, aimed at ensuring sustained defensive capability and deterrence. This support includes long-term defense aid packages, financing for weapons procurement, cooperation on funding Ukraine’s armed forces through its national budget, access to European defense depots capable of rapid resupply in the event of a future attack, and practical and technical assistance in building defensive fortifications.
In addition, the declaration provides for the creation of a multinational force for Ukraine, composed of contributions from willing nations within the coalition. This force is to be deployed at Ukraine’s request once a credible peace deal has been agreed. It will have European leadership, involvement from non-European coalition members, and proposed support from the United States.
The document further sets out binding commitments to support Ukraine in the event of any future armed attack by Russia.
‘Our ironclad commitment to stand with Ukraine… We’ll help build military hubs and defend Ukraine’s skies… This is about building the foundations for peace.’
Keir Starmer says any deal must include firm guarantees, not blind trust, after Russia’s latest bombing of Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/cVSvPDG2Sd
— GB News (@GBNEWS) January 6, 2026“This is a vital part of our unwavering commitment to support Ukraine over the long term,” Starmer said at a press conference in Paris. “It creates the legal framework within which British, French, and partner forces can operate on Ukrainian territory, ensuring the security of Ukrainian air and sea space and strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces for the future.”
Starmer added that the arrangements would allow the United Kingdom and France, following a peace deal, to establish military hubs across Ukraine and build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine’s defensive needs.
‘Britain and France are prepared to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, once there’s a peace deal.’
Nigel Farage reacts to the Paris summit, warning EU leaders are ‘desperately seeking relevance’, as Trump’s team pursues peace talks and Starmer signals UK troop involvement. pic.twitter.com/DA1lMXXGpM
— GB News (@GBNEWS) January 6, 2026Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was critical of Keir Starmer’s remarks following the Paris meeting, saying: “You’ve got a series of European countries, predominantly European Union and us with Starmer half-in and half-out, desperately seeking relevance. That, I think, is what that press conference in Paris was all about.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the declaration on security guarantees as “very concrete,” saying Ukraine already knows which countries will participate and what contributions they will make. He added that progress had also been made in discussions with the American delegation in Paris on ceasefire monitoring.
