A Russia-aligned Ukrainian political figure warned of the risk of a global conflict after France and the United Kingdom signed a declaration outlining plans to establish military hubs in Ukraine following a potential ceasefire.
Russian state news agency TASS reported that Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian politician living in exile in Russia since 2022, criticized the agreement, saying, "The declaration of intent to deploy a multilateral contingent in Ukraine after the conflict ends can be seen as nothing but a large-scale political provocation geared not to let this conflict end and thus, lead the world to a third world war by creating all necessary prerequisites for that."
The declaration was signed in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The document outlines plans for a multinational force to support Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached with Russia, according to Newsweek.
Western leaders have described the initiative as part of the effort to provide long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and deter future Russian military action.
Starmer said the agreement would involve a sustained military presence following any ceasefire. "We discussed these issues in detail today, and so I can say that following a ceasefire, the U.K. and France will establish military hubs across Ukraine and build protected facilities for weapons of military equipment to support Ukraine's defensive needs," he said.
Zelenskyy welcomed the declarations, calling them a concrete step forward. "It's important that today the coalition has substantive documents. These are not just words. There is concrete content: a joint declaration by all the coalition countries and a trilateral declaration by France, Britain and Ukraine," he said.
President Donald Trump's envoys attended the Paris summit and expressed U.S. support for the emerging security framework. U.S. representatives said Washington would play a leading role in monitoring any ceasefire and providing additional assurances to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders have repeatedly opposed the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine, warning that such actions could widen the conflict.
Moscow has maintained that Western military involvement in Ukraine crosses what it views as a red line.
The Paris summit also produced a joint call to strengthen Ukraine's defensive capacity, including replenishing weapons stockpiles and maintaining an army of about 800,000 personnel after the conflict ends.
Negotiators involved in the talks acknowledged that key legal and operational details remain unresolved, with further discussions planned.
Despite continued diplomatic engagement, disagreements over foreign troop deployments and the status of territory under Russian control remain significant obstacles to a comprehensive settlement.
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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