Britain will deploy boots on the ground in Ukraine as part of a proposed ceasefire deal backed for the first time by the United States.
A joint declaration for the "multinational force", to help uphold any peace agreement and preventanother invasion by Russia, was signed by Sir Keir Starmer, with France and Ukraine, on Tuesday.
The deal includes Britain and France setting up military "hubs" in Ukraine to facilitate troop deployments if needed, and to also help with reconstruction efforts.
The plan has the support of the US, which has now offered a "backstop" to support the European troops in the event of a future war with Russia.
European leaders described the intervention as game-changing shortly before the deal was announced on Tuesday night.
It comes amid mounting tension between Europe and the US overDonald Trump's threats to annex Greenland, a territory of Nato-member Denmark, and questions over the legality of his operation to arrest Nicolas Maduro, the former Venezuelan dictator.
On Tuesday, European leaders and Mr Trump's lead negotiators – Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner – held a rare joint press conference in Paris to announce details of the new commitments.
However, an end to the war still depends on Moscow agreeing to a wider ceasefire plan thatVladimir Putin, the Russian president, has so far refused to sign up to.
Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, warned a ceasefire could still be "six weeks or six months" away.
'Very, very big milestone'
The "declaration of intent" signed in Paris paves a legal pathway for British and French forces to operate on Ukrainian soil to help rebuild the war-torn nation's armed forces – and police its skies and seas.
At a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, the US agreed for the first time to "to support the force in case of attack", according to a statement signed by around 40 leaders of European governments and Canada.
Washington has also promised to lead a high-tech operation to monitor any ceasefire line, agreed between Ukraine and Russia, to attribute blame for any violations.
Sir Keir said: "In today's discussions, we have... gone into greater detail about the mechanics of the deployment of the force on the ground.
"Alongside our plans for a co-ordination 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."
Mr Merz said any ceasefire agreement could take months, and also warned that an "ideal, perfect" peace was unlikely, hinting at the need for Kyiv to offer further compromises on a wider peace deal.
Mr Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law, called the deal over security guarantees a "very, very big milestone".
But he warned: "This does not mean that we will make peace, but peace would not be possible without the progress that was made here today."
'When this ends, it ends forever'
Mr Witkoff told reporters that Washington, Europe and Kyiv were closing in on a deal on future security guarantees "which are important, so that the people of Ukraine know that when this ends, it ends forever".
The plan states that Britain and France would lead a force aimed at deterring any future Russian invasion if the US-led peace talks ended in a ceasefire.
The agreement also calls for European fighter jets and surveillance aircraft to be used to police the skies above Ukraine to enable the resumption of international air travel.
Meanwhile, Turkey and other Black Sea nations would lead a mission to demine the waters and secure key shipping routes.
"US capabilities such as intelligence and logistics" would be part of the land, air and sea force, the coalition's statement said.
It is not yet clear how the US could respond if the coalition comes under attack in Ukraine, but European officials previously called for a promise of lethal force against any Russian aggression.
A European diplomat source told The Telegraph that "further involvement is also on the table", but warned: "Of course it's theirs to fulfil at a moment of their choosing."
'Continuous, reliable ceasefire monitoring'
Mr Witkoff said: "The president strongly stands behind security protocols. Those security protocols are meant to a) deter any attacks in Ukraine and b) if there are any attacks, they are meant to defend. And they will do both.
"They are as strong as anyone has ever seen. The president does not back down from his commitments. He is strong for the country of Ukraine and for a peace deal. And we will be there for the Ukrainians in helping them to get to that final peace."
The ceasefire monitoring system agreed between Europe, Ukraine and the US is seen as a significant leap forward.
Washington will use drones, satellites and sensors to adjudicate any potential breaches.
"There will be a continuous, reliable ceasefire monitoring system. This will be led by the US with international participation, including contributions from members of the Coalition of the Willing," the joint statement said.
General Alexus Grynkewich, who commands US forces in Europe and is Nato's lead general, has been hailed as crucial in convincing his political bosses in Washington to back the coalition's potential deployment.
A planned 800,000-strong Ukrainian military will serve as the main deterrence to any future Russian invasion.
As well as promising to help rebuild its battle-stricken forces, Sir Keir said European allies promised "legally-binding commitments to support Ukraine in the case of a future armed attack".
These proposals, nor a 20-point peace plan, have yet to be agreed to by Putin.
The latest draft agreement contains a number of concessions and post-war benefits for Russia, as well as the security guarantees for Ukraine.
That's all for today
Thanks for following our live coverage. It has now ended.
Here's a reminder of what happened today:
Leaders from the "coalition of the willing" met in Paris to iron out the final details of security guarantees for Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer signed a joint declaration with France and Ukraine to confirm details of the so-called "Multinational Force" set to help uphold any peace agreement
The multinational force will be given a US backstop, with Germany also set to provide military support. Neither country will provide boots on the ground
Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law and peace envoy, hailed today as a "big milestone"
The final element of a future peace deal will centre on territory.
We'll be back soon with more updates and analysis.
Analysis: Ukraine's security guarantee is a paper tiger with crucial details left missing
Progress. Success. A "very big milestone."
For the first time in more than a year Ukrainians, Americans, and Europeans seemed to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Peace, they say, is closer than ever, because they are on the brink of agreeing to a security deal to deter a new Russian attack on Ukraine after a ceasefire.
But no backstop for the security force has actually been agreed. At least, the details have not been laid out.
That means the ultimate security guarantee – the implication for Russia that going to war with Ukraine again would mean going to war with the United States – is still not in place.
It is those details that will make the difference between a credible deterrence and a paper tiger.
Germany to help monitor ceasefire
Germany has agreed for the first time to help monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Berlin has not committed to sending troops to Ukraine, unlike Britain and France, but would join the US in enforcing a future ceasefire.
He said today: "This new year is beginning exactly the way the old one ended - with intensive peace diplomacy for Ukraine," he says.
"In the triangle of Europeans, Ukraine and United States, we have built on the progress that we achieved last year in Berlin.
"This is a shared success."
Starmer asked about Greenland
Sir Keir Starmer has just been asked about Donald Trump's threat to annex Greenland.
The Prime Minister dodges answering the question directly, instead referring to his statement from Monday, when he said the future of Greenland should be up to Greenland and Denmark.
Security guarantees largely finalised, says Trump envoy
Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, is now speaking at the press conference.
He said an agreement to provide Ukraine with security guarantees had largely been finalised and that what has been agreed would give Kyiv the confidence that it would not face another invasion by Russia.
"We think we are largely finished with security protocols on Ukraine," he said.
Mr Witkoff said the final element of a peace deal centres around territory.
"We are help to mediate and help in the peace process," Mr Witkoff added.
Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law, hailed the agreement as a "very big milestone".
Starmer: Peace closer than ever
The Prime Minister said peace was "closer than ever" during his remarks at the "coalition of the willing" press conference.
"We are closer to that goal than ever," Sir Keir said, adding: "The hardest yards are still ahead."
UK and France to establish military hubs across Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK and France has agreed to establish military hubs across Ukraine once a ceasefire has been agreed.
It comes after he confirmed that Britain would deploy boots on the ground to enforce a future ceasefire.
The Prime Minister went on to call out Vladimir Putin for failing to commit to ending the war.
"We will keep the pressure up on Russia...until they come to the table in good faith."
'Declaration of Paris' is 'very concrete', says Zelensky
The agreement reached today, described as the Declaration of Paris, has been described by Volodymyr Zelensky as "very concrete".
"This illustrates the willingness of the coalition and the European countries to work for peace," the Ukrainian president said.
"We want to be ready so that when diplomacy reaches peace, we can deploy the forces of the coalition of the willing."
Macron: Security guarantees confirmed for Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron has said the "coalition of the willing" has confirmed the security guarantees that will be given to Ukraine once a peace deal is achieved.
The French president said: "Today, we've made considerable progress, as reflected in the Paris Declaration providing strong guarantees for lasting peace.
"This declaration of the coalition of the willing, for the first time, recognises operational convergence between the 35 countries making up the coalition of the willing, Ukraine and the United States of America. We're talking about strong security guarantees."
It comes after the leaders of France, Britain and Ukraine signed a declaration of intent on the future deployment of multinational forces once a ceasefire is reached.
Press conference begins
You can watch the press conference at the top of this page.
Ukraine 'seriously' considering compromise with Russia
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said Ukraine was "seriously" considering reaching a compromise to end the war with Russia.
Mr Tusk also said that the US and Europe had agreed on unity in the meeting, and that there was no expectation for Polish troops to be stationed in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Press conference expected imminently
A press conference with the leaders of the "coalition of the willing", including Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron, and Sir Keir Starmer, is expected to start imminently.
We'll bring you the latest updates from the conference as they come in, and you will also be able to watch the leaders speak at the top of this page.
05:55pmPictures
'Coalition of the willing' 'family photo'
What has been agreed?
A draft statement from "coalition of the willing" talks reveals that the United States has agreed to be in charge of monitoring a future ceasefire and supporting European troops in the country.
The meeting today has been focused on the security guarantees Ukraine requires in the event of a ceasefire to deter further Russian aggression.
"There will be a continuous, reliable ceasefire monitoring system. This will be led by the US with international participation," the draft statement said, AFP reported.
The multinational force to be deployed after a ceasefire would provide "reassurance measures in the air, at sea and on land" for Ukraine and ensure the "regeneration of the armed forces of Ukraine", it added.
"These elements will be European-led," it said.
Welcome to our live coverage
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the latest "coalition of the willing talks", which were held in Paris this afternoon.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, is hosting, with Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky also in attendance.
We're expecting a joint press conference from the leaders soon, so stay tuned for the latest updates and analysis.
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