Image source, AFP

The UK and France have signed a declaration of intent to "deploy forces" to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, Downing Street says.

Keir Starmer signed the agreement alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday evening.

Speaking after talks with Kyiv's allies from more than 30 nations, he told a news conference: "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."

A statement from "the coalition of the willing", issued by the Elysee after the meeting, committed to a "multinational force for Ukraine" from willing nations - which could support deterrence and rebuilding Ukraine's armed forces in the event of a ceasefire.

It would be European-led, with the involvement of willing non-European member and "the proposed support of the US", it said. US special envoy Steve Witkoff told the news conference President Donald Trump "strongly stands" behind security protocols.

Our Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield writes that progress was made at the meeting in Paris, but was cautions that we have to wait for the detail to emerge.

Our live coverage is now ending, you can read more in our news story here.

Progress has been made, but how much? We have to wait for the detailpublished at 20:13 GMT 6 January

20:13 GMT 6 January

Hugh Schofield
Paris correspondent, reporting from the French capital

There is a lot of talking up what has happened today - but we have to be a little bit cautious, we will have to wait to see the dust settle.

President Zelensky said there was still work needed before security protocols can be signed, so we are not there yet.

I also noticed Steve Witkoff said he thinks we are "largely finished" with security protocols, and that it is time to move onto the economy - which implies he is slightly impatient with this emphasis on the security protocols.

It is easy for the leaders to talk it up, and for us to come away with the impression that something amazing has happened. I'm not sure it has.

But it is very significant that the Americans were there at the press conference. And that is a symbolic message that they are on board in general terms.

We have to wait to look at the detail of the agreement. We can say this is progress, but we are not quite at the end of all this.

Image source, Reuters

We've been bringing you updates from a news conference in Paris focused on efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Here's a recap of what we heard:

• The UK has signed a declaration of intent to deploy forces to Ukraine and, alongside France, establish "military hubs" across the country - all in the event of a peace deal
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the announcement is a "huge step forward"
• US special envoy Steve Witkoff says "durable security guarantees and robust prosperity commitments are essential to a lasting peace" and “we think we’re largely finished with security protocols"
• He says he thinks "land options" will be "the most critical issue", adding they are going to continue the discussion on that and "hopefully we'll be able to meet - or come up with certain compromises with regard to that"
• Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner says today is a "very big milestone". "This does not mean that we will make peace, but peace would not be possible without the progress that was made here today," he says
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany could have a presence in a neighbouring Nato-area in the event of a peace deal, and also said there will need to be compromises to achieve peace

Russia has previously said it would not accept European troops on the ground in Ukraine.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff tells the press conference that President Donald Trump "strongly stands" behind security protocols.

He explains these are "meant to a) deter any further attacks in Ukraine and b) if there are any attacks they're meant to defend".

"And they will do both," he adds.

"They are as strong as anyone has ever seen - everyone on this stage up here has acknowledged that."

He says Trump "does not back down from his commitments" and that his country "will be there for the Ukrainians in helping that to get to that final peace."

Image source, Getty Images

Now let's bring you some comments from US envoy - and Donald Trump's son-in-law - Jared Kushner.

"I think today was a very, very big milestone, and I thank President Macron for assembling this and for all of the work that everyone here has done behind the scenes to bring this together," he says.

"This does not mean that we will make peace, but peace would not be possible without the progress that was made here today...

"If Ukraine is going to make a final deal, they have to know that after a deal they are secure, they have, obviously, a robust deterrence, and there's real backstops to make sure that this will not happen again."

Image source, Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tells the press conference today's announcement is a "huge step forward."

He says: "One year ago we couldn't even think about it and now we have this step."

Each day is a little bit closer, he says, but "it is still not enough."

"It is enough when the war in Ukraine will end," he says.

Zelensky posted on social media a short while ago that he "would like to thank every leader and every state that truly wishes to be part of a peaceful solution."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says talks focused on the contribution Europe and its partners could make for Ukraine after a ceasefire.

The so-called Coalition of the Willing, he says, wants to shoulder its responsibilities and help to make sure that in the future there are strong armed forces in Ukraine to provide a credible deterrent to Russia.

Germany will continue to support Ukraine politically, financially and military, he says, for example by having a presence in a neighbouring Nato-area post-ceasefire - but does not go into detail on what such an arrangement would look like.

He says they are working tirelessly towards peace, but will have to make compromises and will probably not be able to achieve the ideal of a perfectly-designed peace.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff tells the press conference that President Donald Trump wants peace in Ukraine.

“We are determined on his behalf to do everything possible to obtain that peace,” he says.

Witkoff cites progress at previous meetings, including in Berlin and at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

“We think we’re largely finished with security protocols,” he continues.

“But we also think, critically, we are very very close to finishing up as robust a prosperity agreement as any country has ever seen coming out of conflicts like this.”

Image source, Getty Images

Downing Street says Britain will "deploy forces to Ukraine in event of a peace deal".

In a statement released after Starmer signed the "declaration of intent" earlier, his office says: "This is a declaration of intent to deploy forces to Ukraine in event of a peace deal.

"This is a vital part of our iron cast commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long term.

"The 'Multinational Force for Ukraine' will act as a reassurance force to bolster security guarantees and Ukraine's ability to return to peace and stability by supporting the regeneration of Ukraine's own forces.

"The signing of the declaration paves the way for the legal framework to be established for French and UK forces to operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas and building an armed forces fit for the future.

"In today's discussions we have also gone into greater detail about the mechanics of the deployment of the force on the ground.

"Alongside our plans for a coordination cell, post-ceasefire the UK and France will also establish 'military hubs' across Ukraine to enable the deployment and build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine's defensive needs."

Image source, Getty Images

More now from Starmer, who says a declaration of intent has been signed on the deployment of forces to Ukraine "in the event of a peace deal".

"This is a vital part of our iron cast commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long term," Starmer says.

"It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukraine soil, securing Ukraine’s skies and seas and regenerating Ukraine’s armed forces for the future."

Image source, Getty Images

Some more comments now from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer:

"It's important we're starting the year like this - European and American allies, side by side with Ukrainian President Zelensky, standing for peace.

"And we are closer to that goal than ever. But of course, the hardest yards are still ahead.

"So, we're here today to keep driving that effort forward and we've had a very constructive meeting, which has built on the excellent progress made in negotiations over recent days and weeks.

"The purpose of the coalition of the willing is to help deliver a peace that can last, and to work with the US to guarantee Ukraine security for the long-term."

The UK and France will establish military hubs in Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia, Sir Keir Starmer says.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky walks out alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer - and with that the press conference will begin shortly.

First the leaders each sign a declaration of intent between the three countries - relating to the deployment of multi-national forces.

We won't be providing regular text updates, but you'll be able to watch live at the top of the page.

An elephant in the room throughout today's talkspublished at 18:04 GMT 6 January

18:04 GMT 6 January

Katya Adler
BBC Europe editor

Image source, YOAN VALAT/Pool via REUTERS

The so-called Coalition of the Willing, largely made up of European leaders, met in Paris with envoys of US President Donald Trump, to try to make further progress on a sustainable peace deal for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting a plan to end the war with Russia is "90% of the way there", no-one in that room wanted to jeopardise keeping the Americans onboard.

But there was an immense elephant in that grand and glittering Paris meeting - and the underlying atmosphere was extremely tense.

Bear in mind the events of the last few days: the Trump administration's controversial intervention in Venezuela and the US president's insistence soon after, that "we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security".

Greenland is the world's largest island - it's six times the size of Germany. It lies in the Arctic but is an autonomous territory of Denmark's.

At the Paris meeting, Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, was sitting opposite two powerful figures representing Trump - special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from her European colleagues not to antagonise the US over Greenland, in case that impacts US support for Ukraine.

Europe's leaders would have far preferred to keep Greenland and the debate on Ukraine separate. But with the political temperature mounting from Washington and Copenhagen, leaders of big European nations at the Paris meeting issued a statement saying: "It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland".

• Read more: The painful questions for Nato and the EU as Trump threatens Greenland

The outstanding 10% of the agreement, that Zelensky says is yet to be decided, concerns territorial concessions Kyiv is being asked to agree to.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial region of Donbas.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has been making slow progress on the ground recently and, therefore, is unwilling to compromise on its aim to seize full control of Donbas.

In Paris, Ukraine's allies are expected to seek agreement on details that include a multi-national force to reassure the country after a peace deal - as well as what security guarantees to offer Ukraine in the event of a renewed Russian attack, and helping Ukraine's armed forces and its economy.

For months, a so-called "backstop" has been on the agenda - the desire among Ukraine's European allies to secure a pledge from the US that it will be involved in responding to Russia should it violate the terms of a peace deal.

Following talks between Zelensky and Trump in Florida last month, the Ukrainian leader said Washington had offered security guarantees for 15 years - but a time frame for their implementation is not yet clear.

• Read more: Macron hosts Ukraine and allies to try to cement security guarantees

Rorey Bosotti
Live page editor

Image source, Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to address the media within the next hour, following the latest meeting with some of his country's key allies.

Officials from the so-called Coalition of the Willing have come together in Paris as efforts intensify to agree security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.

Zelensky has also been speaking separately with French President Emmanuel Macron, and US mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Today's talks come six days after the Ukrainian president said a peace agreement is "90% ready" and that the remaining 10% would "determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe".

Macron, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected to join Zelensky during today's press update.

This is a stream-only page, meaning there won't be regular text updates. You'll be able to follow the press conference in Paris by clicking watch live at the top of the page.