UK and France to send troops to Ukraine if peace deal agreed

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine if there is a peace deal with Russia, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.

After talks with Ukraine's allies from more than 30 nations in Paris, he said: "Following a ceasefire, the UK and France will establish military hubs across Ukraine and build protected facilities for weapons of military equipment to support Ukraine's defensive needs."

Top US negotiator Steve Witkoff said "durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace" in Ukraine - a key demand by Kyiv.

Russia has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target".

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.